Solana Farms Petite Sirah

 Solana Farms planted 7,500 vines, on 15.3 acres, of Petite Sirah in 2000 & 2001 on disease resistant 5BB rootstock on 5' by 13' spacing. The growing season temperatures for this area range from 36°F to 104°F, averaging 65°F. Drip irrigation is controlled through out the growing season and terminated two weeks before harvest to insure Brix of between 24° and 26°. These grapes have been used as both blending stock and in varietal labels for home winemakers and local wineries.

  The origin of Petite Sirah was uncertain until late in 2003. DNA evidence (Meredith et al, 1999)  confirmed that California plantings are the same grape as Durif and about 10% of the plantings are Peloursin which is virtually indistinguishable in the field.  In the 1870’s Dr. Francois Durif propagated the Peloursin and Syrah in order to produce a grape that was resistant to powdery mildew.

In 1884 Durif was introduced to California. In the 1960’s the first varietally labeled Petite Sirahs were introduced mostly by wineries in the Napa Valley. The grape reached its planting peak in 1976 of 14,000 acres because of the California attention to Rhone varieties, general red wine push and its full tannic taste which makes long aging worthwhile. Currently (2006), over 6,500 acres of Petite Sirah are planted in California. Some sixty California wineries now produce varietal Petite Sirah.  The spelling of these wines has taken the form of, Petit Sirah, Petite Syrah or Petit Syrah and is labeled as such in the U.S., Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

Petite Sirah possesses a sturdy, long-lived vine which is a prolific producer with yields that may exceed eight tons per acre. The grapes may be early ripeners, subject to sunburn and have tight clusters that may be susceptible to grey rot when moisture laden, which has not been a problem in California.

Although Petite Sirah is a true offspring of Syrah, the grapes and vines of these two varietals are very different and distinct from each other. Known for its dark inky saturated color and very dense fruit clusters the Petite Sirah wine varietal possesses flavors of plum, raspberry, blackberry and black pepper. Because the berries are small and the crush results in a higher skin surface to berry mass ratio, the wine can be very tannic unless the winemaker limits the skin contact during fermentation. This higher tannin content, and sometimes higher acidity, can allow the wine to age well for a decade or longer. 

Petite Sirah is often used as the backbone for Central Valley wines but in the cooler northern regions, it is known as a robust, balance red wine of considerable popularity.  Today, there are 47 appellations growing Petite Sirah Grapes in North America with the Paso Robles AVA ranking among the top 10.