Petit Verdot Matures Differently In Temecula WINERIES
Petit Verdot grown in Temecula Vineyards offers unique characteristics to a Meritage blend.

Petit Verdot (pronounced peh-TEE vehr-DOUGH and means “little green”) is a red wine grape classically used in Bordeaux-style blends and American Cabernets to add color, tannins, and complexity.  The grape is small, thick skinned, and highly colored. Winemakers generally use this grape as chefs would use seasoning.  It’s generally used in small amounts of 5% or less in the blend due to its tendency to be astringent and have strong vinous (green/grassy) flavors & aromas reminiscent of pencil shavings.  However, when allowed to become very ripe in warm climates such as Temecula, the vinous characters are less pronounced so higher amounts can be used.  Fully mature fruit offers the best of a “Big Red” wine with spice, leather, and floral notes while still maintaining appropriate acidity.

Plantings of Petit Verdot are increasing in California because the climate allows for complete ripening of the grapes, improving flavors.  The Petit Verdot varietal is also on the rise in other warm wine growing regions like Australia and South America.   In France’s cooler climate, acreage is on the decline since the variety generally ripens late which can impair quality, and crops can be lost to fall rains and frost. Temecula’s warm climate is perfect for the Petit Verdot grape and allows the grape to reach its fullest potential.

Petit Verdot is one of the six approved varietals (also including, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Carménère) from the Bordeaux region in France. Outside of France, wineries making blends with Petit Verdot and the other typical Bordeaux grapes are not allowed to call their wines “Bordeaux” blends. In 1988 a group of American winemakers created the term “Meritage” (a combination of the words Merit and Heritage) to describe a Bordeaux-style wine produced in America. According to the Meritage Association, "Meritage was coined to identify wines that represent the highest form of the winemaker's art, blending, and distinguish these wines from the more generic moniker "red table wine." A Meritage wine must consist of two or more of the “noble” Bordeaux varietals with no single variety making up more than 90% of the blend. Also, to insure that the term “Meritage” is only reserved for hand crafted wines, case production is limited to 25,000 cases per vintage.

Temecula wineries are experimenting in using higher amounts of Petit Verdot in their own Meritage wines. Wiens Family Cellars of Temecula is a Temecula winery utilizing Temecula’s unique grape growing conditions to produce Petit Verdot grapes.  The winery will release their 2007 Temecula Valley Meritage to wine club members on August 12, 2009.  The blend includes 25% Petit Verdot so the unique characteristics are quite evident among the wine’s flavors. In addition to the excellent ripening conditions in Temecula, 2007 was a very dry year which increased wine intensities in the Temecula Valley.  The drought pushed wine flavors more towards jammy with dark berry/plum flavors. 

Wines with significant amounts of Petit Verdot are best served with foods having an herbal character.  Foods with strong flavors like balsamic vinegar also pair nicely, as do robust high-flavor artisan olive oils and pepper-jack cheese.  This varietal’s level of tannin and acidity make it a great food wine that’s not easily overpowered!

Wiens Family Cellars
35055 Via Del Ponte, Temecula, CA 92592
951.694.9892 – Phone | 888.98.WIENS - Toll Free | 951.694.9893 - Fax

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