Wine To Shine Spotlight #1: Petite Syrah
Where did this delicious wine come from?
Introduction & History:
Known to be fruity and easy-to-drink, Petite Syrah has an interesting backstory of accidental origins and mistaken identity!
The result of an unexpected and unintentional cross between the Syrah grape and the archaic Peloursin grape in the 1860s by French botanist François Durif near Grenoble, France, the Petite Syrah wasn’t originally the Petite Syrah at all. Durif actually named the “accidental grape” after himself—Durif grapes. Despite trying to spread his namesake grapes, he was mostly unsuccessful in his home country of France. Thankfully for us, a few batches of Durif grapes were imported to San Jose, California in 1884, despite ending up virtually unknown in France!
For grapes sake! What type of grape IS THIS?
But the story doesn’t end there! In 1884, the Durif grapes brought to San Jose were misidentified and spread as Petite Syrah (which was the same thing as Syrah at the time). The new name ended up sticking, creating confusion among wine experts about whether the “Petite Syrah” they had was made from Durif grapes or Syrah grapes. It wasn’t until 1996 that the answer was uncovered, with a DNA test confirming that over 90% of the “Petite Syrah” grapes were in fact Durif grapes.
To this day, the wine is known as Petite Syrah, despite being made from a totally different type of grape than Syrah grapes. Although the backstory of the Petite Syrah is long and ambiguous, its signature appearance and flavor is anything but!
Basic Qualities:
Petite Syrah is distinguished from Syrah (or Sirah) because the petite classification is made in reference to the berries’ size. The Petite Syrah grapes have a high skin to juice ratio, resulting in high tannin content and a dark, inky texture. They have a characteristic dark and fruity taste, making it smooth and easy to drink.
Locational Varieties:
The smell of the Petite Syrah varietal can vary based on where they’re grown, with subtle variations on the wine’s characteristic tendencies.
The grapes from the inland valleys of California, for example, have a jammy and fruity smell, with overtones of black pepper and vanilla. In contrast, the varieties from the northern coastal regions tend to have an intense color and an earthier smell, with hints of dark chocolate, espresso (coffee), and plum.
Petite Syrah as wine is most commonly found in the United States (California) and Australia, with some cultivation in Mexico, Chile, South Africa, Israel, and Brazil as well.
How It Tastes:
The most dominant flavors you’ll get from Petite Syrah are chocolate blueberries, black pepper, black tea, and coffee. Overall, the flavor is full-bodied, with medium acidity, a smooth finish, and a very fruity, inky disposition.
How To Best Enjoy It:
Fire up the grill and pour me some Petite Syrah!
Best served between 65-70℉ with 1-2 hours of decanting time, Petite Syrah is a great wine to enjoy with lighter meats. It pairs beautifully with roasted pork and barbecued meats, the intense fruity flavor is enhanced by bold spices such as allspice, cinnamon, and even chili pepper. When pairing with Petite Syrah, it’s generally best to avoid dishes that are too sweet. This is a wine that is big and bold, despite having the moniker of being “petite” and it deserves to be paired with big and bold food.
In Summary:
Our Petit Syrah in all its glory!
All in all, the Petite Syrah is a fascinating wine with a flavor profile as exciting and dynamic as its origin story. In fact, we hold it as a personal favorite at the Boston Winery, which we are proud to share with you!
Are you getting thirsty for this stunning wine?
We’ve put together a special Petite Syrah virtual tasting that you can access from the QR code found on the bottles of the Petit Syrah you order from our online store.