Petite Sirah and Syrah are both red wines made from grapes that originally come from France. They have very similar sounding names, so if you thought they were the same wine, don’t worry, many people do! Petite Sirah actually got its name from California winemakers who mistakenly thought it was a kind of Syrah, just with smaller berries (petite means small in French). In reality, Petite Sirah is a completely different grape variety, originally called Durif, which has a different flavor profile than Syrah and is much more tannic.
Durif, or Petite Sirah as we’ll call it, has characteristic plum notes with blueberry, black cherry and chocolate. It’s also a wine with more intense flavors, and more body. Petite Sirah can be described as a jammy wine. It’s high in alcohol and is a darker color because the grapes it’s made from are black-skinned. This wine is so opaque, in fact, you’ll barely be able to see your hand through the glass!
With Syrah, depending on where it’s from, you can expect a medium to full-bodied wine with blackberry and raspberry fruit. If it’s a wine from the northern Rhône region of France, there will also be hints of bacon, smoke, and black and white pepper. In Australia, where Syrah grapes are known as Shiraz, this wine will have more primary fruit and a spicy finish.
Where can you find Petite Sirah?
Most fine wine shops will stock a wine from the northern Rhône (which is Syrah) but is Petite Sirah easy to find? Yes and no. It’s a grape that’s mainly grown in North and South America. A few wineries do specialize in Petite Sirah, particularly Bogle from the Lodi area of California. Otherwise, it’s commonly found in a blend. Two famous Petite Sirah blends are the Prisoner and Phantom (the latter is by Bogle); both wines are from California. Of note, Caymus is now making Petite Sirah, but they’re labeling it Grand Durif. You can pick up a bottle of Grand Durif for $55-60.
More on Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah was always a more minor grape in France, but it does well and has really come into its own in America. It’s actually a cross between two French grape varieties and surprise surprise, one of its parents is Syrah! Petite Sirah was brought to California in the late 1800s and often planted with other varieties which were then harvested together and blended into something called a “Field Blend.” Today, its most common blending partner is Zinfandel.
The Petite Sirah grape has very small berries which means there’s a good skin to fruit ratio which is where it gets its intense color, robust flavor and tannin content from. Take note this is usually a wine that’s high in alcohol. Some bottles can be up to 15-16%.
All about Syrah
Syrah is one of France’s great red grape varietals. It comes from the northern Rhône region where they make full-bodied, long-lived and expressive red wines from dramatic hillside vineyards (particularly in the Cornas, Côte Rôtie and Hermitage appellations). With Syrah, you can get red and black fruits, blueberries, peppery notes and even hints of bacon and smoke.
The grape itself is medium in size and fairly early ripening. It likes climates where it’s warm during the day and cooler at night. This wine also does well when aged in oak and can sometimes need seven to ten years in the bottle for its flavors to harmonize.
The terroir in the region where Syrah grapes are grown greatly affects the wine’s characteristics. That’s why there’s a difference between wines from Europe and Australia.
Syrah is also grown in the United States where it tends to take on more gamey notes. Washington State is one of the main producers, as is the Santa Barbara area of California. They grow Syrah in Chile too, where the wine has more berries, with a touch of fennel. Wines from the Swartland region of South Africa have cherries, berry and pepper and can either be called Syrah or Shiraz depending on their style. In Italy, they grow Syrah but use it mainly as a blending partner for Sangiovese.
What’s the difference between Petite Sirah and Syrah?
- There’s a difference in taste. Petite Sirah is all about concentrated black fruits, from plum to blueberry and black cherry, as opposed to the layered fruit of Syrah. You can think of it like this, Petite Sirah is an intense wine vs Syrah which has a more balanced and complex flavor profile. Note, both have blackberry, blueberry and peppery notes. Petite Sirah can also have hints of chocolate.
- There’s a difference in color. Syrah grapes make a medium ruby wine with blue hints, which is quite different from the inky dark purple of Petite Sirah. Learn more about how to assess the color of wine in this article.
- There’s a difference in body. Syrah is a medium to full-bodied and layered wine. Petite Sirah is a mouth-filling, full-bodied wine.
- There’s a difference in texture. Petite Sirah is highly tannic and generally a rougher wine than Syrah, thanks to its smaller grapes. Tannins are what make your mouth pucker when you drink wine. However, when it comes to ageability, both wines have good aging potential.
More on French Syrah
Did you know that all of the reds grown in the northern Rhône region are 100% Syrah?! A northern Rhône wine, like a St. Joseph or a Côte Rôtie is a perfect wine for a holiday gathering like Thanksgiving or Easter. It goes well with game, from turkey to lamb, and most roasted meats. Some top producers to look for include Guigal, Chapoutier, Domaine Faury, Domaine Courbis and Auguste Clape. Expect to pay anywhere from $30-$200+ a bottle. Note, they also grow Syrah in the Languedoc-Roussillon area, and they use it in some southern Rhône blends, including in the famous wine Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Wine from Australia
Australia is the second largest producer of Syrah in the world, but Down Under it’s known as Shiraz. Shiraz really started to make a name for itself in the mid-1970s when the local wine industry transitioned from primarily making sweet, fortified wines to dry table wines. The Barossa area in southeast Australia is known for producing some of the best wines as it has an ideal climate and some older vineyards dating back 100+ years to when grapes were first brought over from Europe. Barossa is close to the ocean and has warm days that can be quite dry, with cooler nights.
The great thing about Shiraz is it’s not only easy to find, but it’s a delicious wine that won’t break your budget. It has a lot of brambles in its flavor profile, like wild blackberry and raspberry, and its fruit is more focused, with some added spice. Prices start at $15 a bottle and can range up to $75-100+. Note, one of the best red wines in the world is Penfolds Grange which can sell for up to $850-900 a bottle!
5 Fun wine food pairing ideas for Shiraz
- Barbecue ribs. Shiraz is a perfect wine for your next grilling session. It goes well with all barbecue food, especially slow-cooked pork served with a sweet or spicy BBQ marinade.
- Gourmet hamburgers. If you’re out for dinner and ordering a burger, go with a glass of Shiraz. The dark and wild fruit in the wine will make a lively pairing, especially if you like your meat on the rare side.
- Rotisserie chicken. You may think white wine with chicken but Shiraz pairs well with full and smoky flavors and is an ideal wine for rotisserie meats. It’s also excellent with buffalo wings.
- Burritos. Whether it’s chicken, meat or beans, Shiraz can handle the mixture of flavors in a burrito, along with the spicy sauces. It’s an easy wine to drink and makes a fitting pairing with food that has some kick to it.
- Mole. It’s also a great wine with Mexican food, especially dishes with Mole sauce which is made from dry chills and chocolate.
