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#Matchbook petite sirah skin
Its grapes are slightly smaller than average, with a dark skin and a red-purple color in the glass. Syrah is its own distinct varietal, having appeared as the offspring of the uncommon Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche hundreds of years ago in France’s Savoy and Rhone Valley. These two wines are different varietals altogether. How Does Petite Sirah Compare to Syrah?Īlthough Petite Sirah and Syrah have similar spellings, they aren’t different versions of the same wine. California produces numerous 100 percent Petite Sirah wines, along with blends where 85 to 90 percent of the wine is comprised of this inky purple star. While Petite Sirah continues this tradition today, it has earned a place as its own varietal. For years it was relegated to the role of assistant in Zinfandel blends, and occasionally provided bolder tannins and color in weaker Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir vintages. Historically, Petite Sirah has acted as a supportive wine rather than as the standout star. But while it may have originated in France, modern Petite Sirah production in France is almost nonexistent. Other than California, there are a few wineries in Israel and Australia with Petite Sirah vineyards. It waxed and waned over the years, falling out of favor in certain areas but holding true in places like Napa Valley and Livermore AVA. This varietal has been in California since 1884, when Charles McIver introduced it to his vineyards in the San Jose/Alameda County area. This name comes from Francois Durif, the French botanist in whose nursery the varietal originated in the 1860s. In France and elsewhere outside of the United States, Petite Sirah is known as Durif. Both of the parent varietals come from the Rhone-Alpes region, while Petite Sirah originated further south near Tullins in southeastern France. The Petite Sirah grape is the offspring of two French grapes – Syrah and Peloursin. Petite Sirah's bold flavor comes from the high skin-to-juice ratio of the grape, which produces an inky black-purple wine with high tannins and high acidity. This grape is small in size but big in flavor. Petite Sirah wine comes from the Petite Sirah grape, a dark-skinned beauty that grows in dense clusters on the vine. You’ve likely seen interesting bottles of California Syrah, Riesling and Petit Verdot, and may have even explored niche markets for Semillon and Viognier from the Golden State.Ī different California varietal equally worthy of adding to your wine cellar collection, though, is none other than Petite Sirah. You might have narrowed in on wines from California, having discovered and then sampled high-quality bottles of Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. If you’re ready to invest in more wine for your growing collection, or are eager to introduce intriguing yet classy varietals, you’ve likely scoured numerous avenues in your quest.
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