[Photo courtesy of Kelsey Knight on Unsplash]
PS I Love You Champions Dave Pramuk (Robert Biale Vineyards) and Stephanie Douglas (Aratas Wines) have been quietly working behind the scenes to bring consumers an outstanding event. We once had a “Masters of Petite Sirah” event. This new one is not to be confused with the one we once had, because it won’t be tasting aged Petite Sirahs. This one is going to be for current vintages. Here are the details.
P.S. I Love You and The Culinary Institute of America (CIA)
at Copia Present
“Petite Masters” – An Exploration of Petite Sirah
Sunday, March 18, 2018
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Copia, 500 First St., Napa, CA
The newly-opened CIA at Copia, on Napa’s revitalized First Street, is now providing culinary and beverage experiences for consumers on a daily basis. “Petite Masters” is a tasting and discussion program, to provide an up to date look at Petite Sirah’s resurgence, among many of Napa Valley’s top winemakers. Petite Sirah history, viticulture, and winemaking will be topics for discussion among the winemakers.
The panel presentation, discussion, and tasting will be moderated by noted sommelier and educator Christopher Sawyer, and will feature winemakers who represent Napa Valley’s new wave of Petite Sirah:
- ¿Como No?, Aaron Pott
- Chase Cellars, Russell Bevan
- Relic Wines, Mike Hirby
- Robert Biale Vineyards, Trester Goetting
- Turley Cellars, Tegan Passalacqua
The panel discussion and tasting will be held in CIA’s Copia demonstration theater at 1:00 p.m., and will be followed by a meet and greet “walk around” tasting, with many more Petite Sirah producers from Napa Valley and other appellation districts.
Seating for the panel discussion is limited. Those who don’t purchase tickets early enough, to qualify for this panel discussion, will still be able to attend the walk-around tasting.
- ¿Como No?
- Aratas Wines
- Berryessa Gap Winery
- Bogle Vineyards
- Chase Cellars Relic Wines
- Chateau Potelle
- David Fulton Winery
- Denier-Handal Winery
- Justice Grace Wines
- Merisi Wines
- Miro Cellars
- Once and Future Wine Co.
- Orin Swift
- Quixote
- Relic Wines
- Ridge Vineyards
- Robert Biale Vineyards
- Robert Foley
- Rock Wall Wine Co.
- Stags’ Leap Winery
- Stanton Vineyards
- Switchback Ridge
- Tenbrink Wines
- Theopolis Vineyards
- Tres Sabores Winery
- Turley Cellars
A selection of paired foods, prepared by CIA chefs, will be offered, during the walk-around tasting.
Tickets are $45.00, and are being sold through Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/masters-of-petite-petite-sirah-panel-tasting-walk-around-reception-registration-42239920740
For decades, since the turn of the last century, Petite Sirah became a favored grape variety by winemakers across California – and Napa Valley in particular – where it once was the main grape by 60 percent of planted acres.
The Californian winemakers’ stalwart grape variety saw a rapid decline in production after 1970, and nearly disappeared from Napa Valley, as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay rose to fame. What did the early California winegrowers and winemakers know about this red grape of then-uncertain origins that they embraced so fully?
Today, many winemakers statewide, and in Napa Valley in particular, are rediscovering the virtues of the old classic, and taking “Petite” to new heights. And now, with so many wine drinkers priced out of the “cult Cabernet” crowd, Petite Sirah is building a cult following among red wine drinkers – affluent or not – for its robust drinking pleasures, cellar worthiness, and relative value.
P.S. I Love You is a 501 C6 non-profit organization, whose mission is to promote, educate, and legitimize Petite Sirah as a heritage variety, with a special emphasis on its terroir uniqueness.
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