According to Dr. Carole Meredith, Professor Emerita, Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California at Davis, Petite Sirah’s precise family tree is fully settled. Durif has not been misidentified as Petite Sirah, it is Petite Sirah.

“To my mind, Petite Sirah is Durif. There is no doubt about this.”

“They are simply two names for the same grape. We confirmed this around 1997, by comparing the DNA profile of California Petite Sirah with an authentic sample of Durif from the French national variety collection.”

While Petite Sirah is the result of a cross, there were no subsequent re-crosses.

“The seed that became Durif was the result of a cross-pollination between an old French grape called Peloursin and Syrah. We discovered this in 1998, by using DNA paternity analysis methods just like those used with humans.”

I think most of the confusion that results from reading the literature concerning Petite Sirah arises from not distinguishing the actual grape from what is called Petite Sirah in vineyards and ultimately on the bottle.

“Some Petite Sirah vineyards, especially old ones, often contain a few vines of other varieties, but when we analyzed the DNA of vines that look like Petite Sirah, more than 90% of them are Durif. The few that are not turn out to be Peloursin, which is the mother of Durif and looks a lot like it.”

So, Peloursin, Syrah, and many other varieties are found in old Petite Sirah vineyards and end up in wines labeled Petite Sirah. The same is true of many varietally labeled wines, especially old vine Zinfandels. But, true Petite Sirah (the grape not the wine) is Durif and Durif is a cross between Syrah and Peloursin.

For more information see:

www.psiloveyou.org/about_ps.php
www.fifevineyards.com/fife/pdf/Fife_petitesirah.pdf

You are correct - California is the “Sun-shiney” state.

TOM CIOCCO

Thanks for reading as well as for the clarifications. Every time that I read that all of the DNA work on PS has been definitively settled, I read something that contradicts that…I think that it’s a case of there still being a lag in the dissemination of the latest data…thanks again!

TOM CIOCCO

I have some updates for you, all of which can be found on the PS I Love You Website. PSILY is the advocacy group for Petite Sirah, which Louis Foppiano and I founded, after his First Annual Petite Sirah Noble Symposium. August 7, 2007, we’ll be celebrating the Sixth Annual PS Noble Symposium… with the best and the brightest of PS growers and producers in California.

DNA UPDATES: The origin of PS is no longer convoluted. It’s very much defined.

Petite Sirah (the only spelling now allowed on all new BTT approved labels) is the son of Syrah and Peloursin. Dr. Carole Meridith, while working at UC Davis, was responsible for the DNA finding; i.e., Petite Sirah is a cross (only one crossing) between Syrah (father) and the mother varietal (Peloursin). Dr. Francois Durif crossed the two varietals, while trying to find a plant resistant to powdery mildew. Since PS is very prone to bunch rot, it didn’t receive favor in France, but has major historical significance in California. PS flourishes in our dry, Mediterranean climate. There are 7,000+ acres planted worldwide, with over 6,000+ thriving in California sunshine. In the 1960s, PS was planted in Napa Valley by 60 percent… At that time, Cab was NOT kind, and Petite Sirah was thriving as “Hearty Burgundy.”
Today, there are over 360 California producers that make Petite Sirah, and the appellations where it’s planted stretch the entire state… From the Sunny Santa Barbara area with Fess Parker’s Epiphany Cellars, to Alger Vineyards, in Manton — very Northern California.