Did you know that many large production Cabs and Merlots have Petite Sirah blended in (although, it’s rarely mentioned on the label)? This is because it is a work horse varietal with immense tannin, structure and shockingly deep color. It only makes sense that this extraordinary purple grape finds its way into weaker wines to add some depth, color and punch. Luckily, here at Balistreri we nearly always bottle Petite Sirah alone because it stands up very well to our natural style of winemaking. I go as far to say that my grandpa makes some of the very best examples of naturally made Petite Sirah you will find anywhere in the world! Unlike other producers, we often prefer our Petite Sirah fermented whole cluster (with stems), and aged in neutral barrels. This is because we believe overt oak adds too much sweetness to an already ripe and fruit forward varietal. Furthermore, the stems (which we