Jul 8thSmith-Berry’s Petite Sirah

While visiting Smith-Berry a couple of weeks ago, one of the wines that we enjoyed tasting was a new Petite Sirah. Chuck Smith’s Petite Sirah took a Silver Medal from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and it definitely deserved it. We opened a bottle last night and were once again impressed with the full-bodied flavors of blackberries with a touch of black pepper, the deep color and the smooth finish.

Petite Sirah was developed in the 1870’s in the  Rhône Valley of France. It is a cross between a Syrah and Peloursin, a minor Rhône variety. Petite is used to describe the size of the grapes themselves. which allows for a high juice to skin ratio. This provides the wine with high tannins and acidity enabling it to age well. This grape has become a popular choice of California vineyards. Once used only for blending with the jammy Zinfandel, now wineries are producing Petite Sirah as a single varietal wine.

Petite Sirah is a bold red wine and pairs well with steaks, making it an excellent choice for those evenings of grilled dinners. I recommend giving it a try. Smith-Berry’s is one of the best of this varietal.