Who: PS I Love You

What: Masters of Petite: Petite Sirah Panel, Tasting, & Walk-Around Reception

When: Sunday, July 14, on Bastille Day, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Where: Copia, Napa Valley

Why: Celebrating our French Love Child Petite Sirah’s Heritage

While the carefree days of Dark & Delicious are now but a drifting memory, there’s been a U-Turn, a reinvent, a realization… Petite Sirah is just a really great variety, loved by its own cult following. And we love to party, hear stories, and learn more about our adopted love child from Montpelier France.

This is July, a time of our own American birth, via Fourth of July Celebrations… And for some of us, Like Petite Sirah, we also enjoy any French grandparent DNA we might have.  On July 14, the French will be celebrating their National Day for the anniversary of Storming of the Bastille. On 14 July 1789, this was the turning point of the French Revolution. With Petite Sirah’s French lineage, it’s just a great way to celebrate, especially those with French grandparents and anyone else who might also love Petite Sirah, for its sumptuously beautiful flavors.

On July 14, While France celebrates Bastille Day, we’re so pleased to also celebrate in grand tradition, with our immigrant child… Petite Sirah.

PART I – Seminar & Select Tastings
We’re focused on Petite Sirah education. Attend the seminar, with other devoted Petite fans, to learn about and taste five distinct, Dark & Delicious styles. Each winery has its own story, and each Petite will reflect its own terroir.

1. Winemaker Tres Goetting of Robert Biale Vineyards
2. Winemaker Nicole Salengo of Berryessa Gap
3. Winemaker Randle Johnson of The Hess Collection and Artezin Wines
4. Owner/Winemaker Julie Johnson of Tres Sabores Winery
5. Owner/Winemaker Miro Tcholakov of Miro Cellars

PART II – Walk Around Tastings

The walk around tasting has 20 vintners/winemaking stars. The wines will be paired with gourmet bites from CIA chefs.

Participating Wineries:

• Aix Sponsa Cellar
• Aratas Wine Napa Valley
• Artezin Wines
• Ballentine Vineyards
• Berryessa Gap Vineyards
• Dark & Delicious Petite Sirah
• Denier-Handal Wines
• Foppiano Vineyards
• Merisi Wines
• Michael-David Winery
• Miro Cellars
• Quixote Winery
• Robert Biale Vineyards
• Stanton Vineyards
• Tenbrink Vineyards and Winery
• Theopolis Vineyards
• Three Clicks Wines
• Tres Sabores Winery
• Vezer Family Vineyard
• Vincent Arroyo Winery

At PS I Love You, we’re all looking forward to continuing the wine education for this American Heritage variety. According to American’s venerable wine historian Charles Sullivan:

1880 – Dr. Francois Durif, a grape botanist and grape breeder at the University of Montpellier in Southern France, released a new variety that he named after himself. It grew from a seed he extracted from fruit of the old French variety Peloursin. Dr. Durif didn’t know the pollen source at the time, but we now know that it was Syrah. The combination of Peloursin and Syrah resulted in fruit with saturated color and very dense fruit clusters.

1884 – Durif was introduced into California by Charles McIver. He imported Petite Sirah for his Linda Vista Vineyard, at the Mission San Jose in Alameda County. Petite Sirah entered the US through the East Bay. Some growers called it Petite Sirah, which was a name commonly used for Durif in some parts of France.