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Petite Sirah, The John Wayne of Grapes,
Is Our All-American Legend
Petite Sirah, The John Wayne of Grapes, Is Our All-American
Legend Imagine, if you will, being plucked from your homeland
shortly after being born. (Some would argue that you were
ostracized.) You're brought to the Atlantic, where you board
a steamship headed for America. You land in New York, are put
onto the next train headed to California, and you never look
back... Durif... About to morph into Petite Sirah, the
All-American varietal...
According to wine industry historian Charles Sullivan, Charles
McIver of Linda Vista Vineyards (Mission San Jose) imported Durif
to the U.S. in 1884, and coined it "Petite Sirah."
Affection? Size of the grape? Couldn't pronounce
"Durif?" Just didn't want the father's name to
be dropped forever because it would make it harder to tell the
story? Who knows... That's lost forever, and continues the
mystery of our legend.
What McIver is responsible for is that he brought the
"Wild West" its greatest "Wild Child." And,
like so many others that have made the arduous, culture-shock
journey, this is where it ultimately has flourished. Petite Sirah
has been fully allowed to express all of its capabilities; not
encumbered by what being of mixed lineage would have imposed upon
its nature in France. Labeled in France as a misfit, Petite Sirah
has solidly proven itself to be "The stuff that men are made
of:" Durable, strength of intensity, and the ability to
weather any challenge.
Although its grapes are petite, don't be fooled. This
burly, manly wine has been able to completely express its
concentration of color, flavors, textures, and tannins in ways
that could only be imagined in its own homeland... The American
Legend... Petite Sirah.
It takes true grit to get it, this Petite Sirah. It's not
for fainting ladies. It's not for the White Zinfandel crowd.
It's for the cowboy or cowgirl in all of us. Fasten up your
spurs, Partnah; we're headed for a ride!
Petite Sirah, Our All-American Legend!
