Winemaker Notes
Petite Sirah grown in Mendocino County consistently produces wines of excellent quality. Characteristically spicy and earthy, this wine has bramble fruit notes and a deep burgundy color. Pair with peppery pasta sauces, braised venison, or dark chocolate.
Organically Grown
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This tightly wrapped wine boasts concentrated black fruits and black pepper on a firmly tannic texture. Its concentration and tannins counteract the funky, earthy notes that often come with no-sulfite-added wines. Singed herbs, wood smoke and darkest chocolate give it subtleties to savor. Best 2026–2036.
With its deep color, firm tannins and bold flavors, there is nothing petite about Petite Sirah. The variety, originally known as Durif in the Rhône, took on its more popular moniker after being imported to California in the early 1880s. Quintessentially recognized today as a grape of the Golden State, Petite Sirah works well blended with Zinfandel and finds success as a single varietal wine in the state’s warmer districts. Somm Secret—Petite Sirah is not a smaller version of Syrah but it is an offspring of Syrah and the now nearly extinct French Alpine variety called Peloursin.
Situated in northern Mendocino County, the Redwood Valley appellation sits at about 200 feet higher than the surrounding areas and is directly west of Potter Valley. The AVA is ideal for less common grape varieties such as Barbera, Carignan, Valdiguie and Viognier among California’s other usual suspects.