Fruit: This is a wine known for its big fruit and bold character. The most common fruit is plums, blackberries and black cherries. Wines from cooler regions can often exhibit an impression of sour red fruit. Non-Fruit: Black pepper, coffee, smoke, caramel, licorice, mocha, cloves and leather. Spiciness is one of the most common descriptors used for this wine.
Region(s): Santa Barbara, Napa, Sonoma, Lodi, Clarksburg, Sierra Foothills, Mendocino
Other Notes: Petite Sirah is a big, very bold wine that tends toward higher tannins. This is one of the few wines that can often be identified by just looking at its beautiful deep black/purple color (often described as inky) and the incredibly deeply colored legs it leaves on the side of the glass after swirling. The tendency towards bigger tannins can make it a hard wine to pair with food other than those with good fat and big body, like a barbequed steak. To read see our feature article: Petite Sirah