2014 Carlisle Sonoma Valley Petite Sirah

Carlisle Winery is owned by Mike Officer, a former software developer and home winemaker, and his wife Kendall. Based on their success making up to 300 cases of mostly Zinfandels at home, they launched a commercial winery in 1998 in Sonoma County. Jay Maddox, an old friend of the Officers and graduate of the U.C. Davis winemaking program, was brought on as the winemaker. Today the winery is known for its limited production Zinfandels, Syrahs and Petite Sirahs. Grapes are sourced from vineyards in Sonoma County, and more recently, Paso Robles on the Central Coast of California. About 5,000 cases are produced annually. Robert M. Parker Jr. calls Carlisle’s wines “stunningly rich, opulent, intensely flavorful. Loaded with soul and personality…”

Sonoma Valley AVA is Sonoma County’s original winegrowing district. Designated as an AVA in 1981, it includes 14,000 vineyard acres in a long, narrow valley that runs north-south. Rather romantically, the valley is also called The Valley of the Moon. The oldest winery in the AVA, and one of the oldest in California, is Buena Vista Winery, founded in 1857 by a Hungarian count who planted vineyards in Wisconsin before moving to California. Today there are nearly 60 wineries in the AVA producing a variety of wines, from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewurztraminer. The appellation is bordered by mountain ranges on the east and west, which partly account for Sonoma Valley’s unique terroir. The mountains protect it from the cooling weather of the Pacific Ocean and fruit ripens well.

Despite its popularity, this grape is quite rare. Less than 10,000 acres are planted worldwide, with the bulk in California. In France, the grape is referred to as Durif. Not to be confused with Syrah, Petite Sirah is a cross of Syrah and Peloursin. The result is darker and fuller.