Ninth Annual Petite Sirah Symposium being held at Concannon Vineyard

Sponsored by Concannon Vineyard, Livermore, California

Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 8:30 a.m.

The best and brightest talent in California is again gathering to discuss Petite Sirah grape growing, wine making, and marketing issues. Petite growers and producers continue to discuss this passion among themselves, making Petite Sirah a stealth variety of consequence.

Since PS I Love You began after the first Petite Sirah Symposium, interest for Petite has grown in substantial numbers.

• In 2002, only 64 grape growers and winemakers were identified as growing and making Petite Sirah.

• Today, nine years later, there are well over 900 grape growers and winemakers identified.

Most of what is produced for Petite Sirah is truly a winemakers “Pet” project, with 400 or fewer cases being made annually. Those wines are mostly sold directly through tasting room sales and wine clubs. Most wine critics are not seeing these wines for critical review; however, these wines are very much a part of the Petite landscape. Additionally, the media tasting that follows the morning session of the Symposium provides a rare view of what many of these artisan wineries are doing, since many of these Petites never leave the winery except through retail.

This year marks the 50^th Anniversary of Petite Sirah being a heritage variety.

Jim Concannon had the foresight to varietally label Petite Sirah in 1964, with a 1961 vintage, marking this year Concannon’s Golden Anniversary. “Concannon is the best location for the Petite Sirah Symposium,” states Jo Diaz, founding executive director of PS I Love You, Inc. “Petite Sirah is Concannon’s flagship wine; couple that with the fact that Concannon’s educational center is a prime resource location, and their commitment to sponsoring the Petite Sirah Symposium has kept it in the forefront of interest by U.S. wine reviewers all of these years.

The Agenda

Attendees will be welcomed by Jim Concannon (third generation vintner) and John Concannon (fourth generation vintner):

John Concannon ~ 50 Years of Petite Sirah Being a Variety; Where we are today.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER ~ Mark Oldman, Author: Oldman’s Brave New World of Wine Pleasure, Value, and Adventure Beyond Wine’s Usual Suspects

ENOLOGY ~ Brian Geagan, Canton Cooperage ~ Natural Seasoning of American Oak

VITICULTURE ~ Kenneth Wilson, Wilson Vineyards ~The Pros and Cons of Dropping Crop: Quality Fruit in the Vineyards vs .Cost of Goods Debate

ENOLOGY ~ Winemaker Steve Hall, & Grapegrower Robert Biale, Robert Biale Vineyards ~ Crafting Great Wine in the Vineyards: How This Team Takes it On

MARKETING ~ Ellen Landis, Landis Shores Inn, Sommelier/Wine Competition Judge ~ Practical Food & Wine Pairings with Petite Sirah

LUNCHEON w/MEDIA ~ 12:30 ~ 1:30 p.m.

BEST OF THE PETS TASTING With MEDIA ~ 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

All wine blogger and media welcome. Click here to Email Jo Diaz.

Registrations are being accepted online at www.psiloveyou.org.

The event promises to be one of continued exploration, education, and enlightenment about Petite Sirah.