The Little Grape With a Big Livermore Legacy

Petite Sirah may be modest in name, but in Livermore Valley it has helped shape California wine history—and a local identity.

Petite Sirah has a way of making an entrance. In the glass, it is often deep in color and full of bold fruit and firm tannins. But its reputation in Livermore Valley rests on more than its powerful style: the grape is woven into the region’s winemaking story.

The turning point came in 1961, when Livermore’s Concannon Vineyard introduced what the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association identifies as America’s first varietally labeled Petite Sirah. Until then, the grape was often used in blends. Concannon helped put its name on the bottle—and Livermore on the map as a home for the variety. (lvwine.org)

Petite Sirah is not simply a smaller version of Syrah. The name has been used for more than one grape, but California’s Petite Sirah is commonly identified as Durif, a variety developed in France in the 19th century. UC Davis researchers note that Durif was brought to California in 1884 and became known here as Petite Syrah, a name that eventually took the familiar spelling “Petite Sirah.” (fps.ucdavis.edu)

The word petite can be misleading, too. It’s associated with the grape’s smaller berries— not with a delicate wine. Petite Sirah’s dark fruit, deep color and substantial tannins have made it a natural choice for drinkers who like reds with presence.

Why Livermore suited it:

Livermore Valley’s geography helps tell the rest of the story. The valley runs unusually from west to east, allowing marine air and breezes from the Pacific and San Francisco Bay to cool the area. The region’s gravelly, well-drained soils and warm days followed by cooler nights create conditions that growers say help grapes ripen while retaining balance. (lvwine.org)

That setting, combined with Concannon’s early commitment, gave Petite Sirah both a place to grow and a local champion. Concannon’s history page traces its winemaking back to 1883, and the winery continues to present Petite Sirah as part of its legacy. (concannon.wine)

More than a historic first:

A first bottling made a headline; decades of growing and making the wine helped make it a tradition. Concannon’s role also reached beyond its own label: UC Davis Foundation Plant Services records a Petite Sirah selection from Concannon vineyards in Livermore entering its collection in 1969. (fps.ucdavis.edu)

Today, Petite Sirah is one of the grapes that connects Livermore’s past to its present. The valley grows many varieties, but this one carries a particularly clear local story: a pioneering winery, a distinctive California wine, and a region proud to have helped bring it out of the blend and into the spotlight.

That is why Petite Sirah is famous in Livermore, it also why Madison Vineyards keeps the tradition alive by making “Cardenio”, a 100% Petite Sirah from Livermore. Keep us in mind when you want to try a true varietal from our famous wine region.