What is Petite Sirah.
Petite – like a 350 pound ballerina. Ever heard “bull in a china shop”. (I get called that by my wife all the time). Perhaps this was a French attempt at Euphemism?
So, why “petite?” Petite Sirah (no, the “i” isn’t a typo) is one of those stealth grapes, like Carmènere in Chile, or Zinfandel in California, mistaken for something they were not until exposed by DNA tests. When DNA isn’t busy solving murders and tracing family trees, it’s hard at work sorting out wine grape confusion.
Petite Sirah turns out to be the offspring of Syrah and a very old variety from France’s Rhone valley called Pelousin. It’s also known as Durif, after the French nurseryman who bred it. So it’s petite only the sense of being Syrah’s love-child.
What it is….an amazingly potent wine varietal that will coat your teeth purple and wallop you with alcohol. For customers of Church Street Cellars two things that are not all that unpleasant.
Come by Church Street Cellars and enjoy a glass of Petite Sirah with our lamb chops or rib eye steak. Tuesday are still half-price on the enomatic wine serving machine.
Enjoy
Mark Heider – Owner
Church Street Cellars
