"Petite Sirah is often compared to Syrah in taste and body. However, knowledgeable winemakers agree that the Syrah is an easier grape to grow than Petite Sirah. One of the challenges facing Petite Sirah growers is its "low vigor" and grapes that are about half the size of a Syrah." Petite Syrah, much like Zinfandel, is often considered America's Grape and has developed a loyal following on this side of the Atlantic."

"Our Petite Sirah is actually considered a Durif varietel named after the master grape breeder Durif in the late 19th century. He cross-bred Syrah and Peloursin to create a truly distinctive grape with saturated color and dense fruit, much like the Syrah from which it was derived."

VINEYARD
"Palisades Vineyard sits in a small riparian valley northeast of Calistoga in the northern end of the Napa Valley. It is bisected by an occasionally torrential Horns Creek, and is blessed with the kind of cobbley loam soil and very hot summers that are perfectly suited for growing for growing both Rhone and Bordeaux style wines."

"The tradition of grape growing at Palisades Vineyard dates to 1902 when Domenico Barberis, an immigrant from the small village of Murialdo in Genoa, Italy, came to California to find work and make a safe homestead for the family he did not yet have. Gilda Stella (whom Domenico had not met until she came to California at the urging of one of the other Barberis brothers) joined Domenico after he had secured work in the Calistoga mines. He had found the property that became Palisades Vineyard before Gilda arrived; together they planted it to its first vines soon after their wedding." -

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