Winemaker Notes
Spellbound Petite Sirah has an intense color and generous bouquet of rich blackberries and blueberries, vanilla bean and roasted coffee, all in a remarkably approachable glass. The wine is crafted to unleash dark and luscious characteristics, while managing tannins to deliver an opulent and juicy Petite Sirah.
Enjoy this wine on its own or with expressive dishes including Cajun flavors, smoky barbecued meats, spaghetti with meatballs, fried chicken and even Greek food. Rosemary, oregano, paprika, and many more spices all work well.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
A bouquet of berry preserves and fresh-cut flowers with a soupçon of toast appears on the nose. The quaffable and charming palate is taut, focused, and refreshing, with a surprising herbal lift and raspberry finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is concentrated, with aromas of blackberry, huckleberry, pink peppercorn, nutmeg and notes of dried flowers on the nose. The flavors on the palate are black currant jam, pepperjam, black plum and grilled orange slices, with a dry, juicy finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Spellbound Petite Sirah shows attractive ripe fruits and is nicely layered on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of dried earth and black fruits. Serve it with a bacon-topped meatloaf. (Tasted: February 12, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
Everyone knows the warm sun nurtures plants, bringing grapevines to full maturity. But since ancient times, farmers have also depended on the moon, ruler of the tides, whose gravitational force pulls water up from the soil, supporting vines during the cool nights that maintain beautiful balance in wine grapes. The founding partners of Spellbound chose the name and label imagery to suggest the ever-present magical, mystical force of the moon.
Spellbound first made its mark with one of the first varietals to be grown in California, Petite Sirah. This award-winning wine has earned 90 points from The Wine Advocate across multiple vintages. The portfolio also includes a core lineup of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Rosé, all crafted with grapes from established and emerging regions throughout California, where warm sun and cool, moonlit nights result in expressive, approachable, balanced wines. These wines are true to their roots, expressing ripe varietal character with a style that elevates every occasion - from special events to everyday meals around the family table. Savvy wine shoppers, will appreciate Spellbound for its everyday affordability, consistent quality and fruit-driven wine profile.
California is a winemaking colossus; by itself it is the fourth largest producer in the world. Red wine accounts for 56% of the total by volume, and red grapes 63% of total acres planted. In addition, a number of California red wines are heralded as being among the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world.
While the state’s incredibly diverse geography, soils and microclimates allow for a wide array of styles, the key factor unifying California red wine is the abundance of sunshine and a long, consistent growing season. This leads to well-developed fruit marked both by impressive ripeness and balancing acidity.
The state’s most famous red wine region, of course, is Napa Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns as king. But California boasts a wealth of other impressive appellations. The much larger and climatically varied Sonoma County also produces world class California Cabernet, along with wonderful examples of California Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Fine versions of Cabernet and Zinfandel hail from Paso Robles as well, which is also gaining fame with Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache. As for Pinot Noir, terrific examples can be found from AVA’s such as Anderson Valley, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills. Wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are making wonderful Syrahs, and the Sierra Foothill appellations are proving to be an experimental hotbed, with Italian and Spanish varietals employed to great effect.
This of course is a mere sketch. The subject of California red wine is as deep and broad as an ocean, and absolutely a joy to explore!