The 2017 growing season began with a good deal of precipitation, but after a mild spring,temperatures increased and remained quite warm throughout summer and fall. The vintage delivered smaller than average clusters, which led to excellent concentration and high quality fruit. This varietal typically boasts nuances of black fruits and dark chocolate, but the flavors are transformed a bit through the fortification process, creating additional notes of butterscotch and baking spices.

Once the grapes are harvested, they are placed in special tanks and allowed to only partially ferment before a clear neutral brandy is added to the wine to stop fermentation from completely converting the sugar. This is what creates a sweet wine as opposed to a traditional dry table wine. Our Petite Sirah Dessert Wine is aged in small oak barrels for an extended cellaring period in order to ease the tannins and heighten flavor complexity.