What is the difference in Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Shiraz?
A. According to Dr. Carole Meredith of the University of California – Davis, “Petite Sirah is the offspring of Syrah. Every grape variety has two parents. In the case of Petite Sirah, those two parents are Syrah and Peloursin. That means that half of the genetic makeup of Petite Sirah came directly from Syrah. Syrah is the father of Petite Sirah in the true genetic sense. Syrah and Shiraz are synonyms.” Q. Why is it sometimes written Petite Syrah and sometimes written Petite Sirah. A. According to the late Roy Andries de Groot, Perhaps in California… They decided to give it a new name, including a French word for prestige, and something a bit easier to spell than Syrah. Both requirements were met by calling the new American vine Petite Sirah.”* **Roy Andries de Groot, The Wines of California, The Pacific Northwest & New York, Summit Books, , New York, 1982, pp. 155.
