The wine world knows that France, Italy and California produce the best red wines. The top two wine producers switch between Italy and France, with Italy now #1. #'s 3 and 4 also change, with Spain today producing more than the USA. Australia is #5. China is rapidly rising, and is affecting wine prices in other ways, too. Interestingly enough, though world wine production is dropping, and is lower than 1961. Some blame climate warming.- Today I will focus on the best red wines. Some day I'll talk about the finest white wines.
- France: Bordeaux and Burgandy.
- More specifically, there are two blends of Bordeaux, the left bank uses mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and right mostly Merlot.
- Burgandy is almost always Pinot Noir, although White Burgandy is Chardonnay.
- Italy: Piedmont for Barolo and Tuscany for Brunello de Montalcino.
- California: Napa Valley and parallel Sonoma Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon and red blends.
- However, Australia can make a case for someday joining this group.
- In particular, their Shiraz is prominent.
- A bottle of 1951 Penfolds Grange Hermitage Shiraz sold in 2021 for $157,624.
- Name change for Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz in 1990, the cheapest this bottle has gone is $490, with the 2019 now between $740 to $1000.
- The latest available, 2020, can be had for $850.
- Penfolds from Wikipedia.
- Founded in Adelaide in 1841 by Christopher Penfold.
- In 1903 Penfolds was the largest winery in the Adelaide region.
- Their Grange 2008 received perfect scores from both Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate.
- Now operates wineries in Adelaide, Barossa Valley, Eden Balley, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra.
- In June 2012 released a limited edition run of 2004 Block 42 wine only sold in ampoules, each for $168,000. A 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon of 750 milliliters.
- In 2013 was awarded "New World Winery of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
California makes 81% of U.S. wines. We are all familiar with Napa and Sonoma, but Paso Robles and Santa Barbara are looking better and better. Today I'll spotlight Paso Robles. Why?
- I went to Stanford University from 1958 to 1962. I drove by Paso Robles on Highway 101 at least 20 times during that period. Never once did I stop, for I remember this town as dusty and without any attraction.
- Surely they must have had a few wineries then, but fine wine-making did not arrive until the late 1960s.
- Paso Robles did not become an American Viticultural Area (AVA) until 1983, when it then had 17 wineries.
- There are now over 200 wineries in Paso Robles,which has become California's fastest growing AVA.
- It was in 1974. I was working for the summer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. I recall living in an apartment adjacent to the vineyard of Wente Brothers.
One day, a colleague came up to me. Forgot his first name, but his last name was Concannon. The two largest wineries in Livermore are Wente and Concannon.
He indicated that his family had imported the first Petite Sirah into the country, and a particularly outstanding bottling was just made available for tasting. His father, Jim Concannon, is today known as the "Father of Petite Sirah.
We went to his family garage and he poured me my first Petit Sirah. I held a good enough face, but almost died from the taste. In those day, mind you, 51 years ago, I was into Blue Nun and Lambrusco, sweeter wines.
I now bring you up-to-date on Petit Sirah.
An important root comes from France, and there it's called Durif.- Charles McIver first imported the French original to the U.S. in the mid-1880s.
- Petite Sirah is an American grape varietal, far removed from its French origins, and is not a smaller-sized Syrah. It could well now be the boldest and richest of all red wines, with high acidity and robust tannins, depending on the terroir, that is, where the grape is grown. This is a small grape with large leaves.
- Concannon provided the first modern Pinot Sirah,
- However, it is only in the past decade that Petite Sirah doubled in production, and is now also grown in Washington, Arizona, Maryland, Texas and West Virginia. Also Israel, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
- The wine is dry, full-bodied with an alcohol content of around 15%.
- Dominant flavors are plum, blueberry and black tea.
- Good with spicy dishes, most meats and a variety of cheeses.
- Can age for decades, because of high tannin and acidity.
Some other details.
- Interestingly enough, Paso Robles is right in the middle of Highway 101, 210 miles away from Los Angeles and San Francisco.
- The best time to visit Paso Robles is October. During this Harvest Wine Month, there are oodles of unique events, specialty tours, winemaker dinners and grape stomping. Also, warm days and cool nights.
- While I've had my transition embarrassments, I consider myself to now be an almost oenophile, having been through a period in Chaine des Rotisseurs and eleven years of cultivated imbibition at 15 Craigside dinners. The final wine trip on my bucket list is Paso Robles.
- Chances are that until you read this posting, you never heard of Paso Robles. and had no idea there was a red wine called Petite Sirah. I'll further state that, in time, and this will be soon, Paso Robles will overtake the traditional locations growing the finest red wines, and, further, the best red wine will someday be Petite Sirah.
- We just completed our next trip itinerary. We are going to Paso Robles in October. Details? Read my posting tomorrow.
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