Petit Verdot

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. Recently I was teaching a wine class and we were discussing Bordeaux style blends and the topic of Petite Verdot came up. Today let’s explore this unique grape.

Petit Verdot is one of the major grape varieties authorized for use in the making of red wine in the Bordeaux of France. In Bordeaux, Petite Verdot is a late ripening grape, and because of this, in some years it doesn’t make it into the blend. In warm years it will exhibit a pleasant peppery spice characteristic, which makes quite a nice contribution to the finished wine. In the hew world, planted in climates more conducive to its nature, Petit Verdot will contribute by adding lovely color and flavor to the blend. What I like about it are the notes of violet and leather it contributess to the nose as the wine matures. New world wine makers are planting it with more frequency, and it is now found as a stand alone variety, creating a very supple and provocative wine all on its own.  Although records show it likely predates Cabernet Sauvignon as a grape variety, judging by its characteristics, Bordeaux was not likely Petit Verdot’s place of origin. It appears that it hails from a slightly warmer climate, and may have been brought to Bordeaux by the Romans; who were credited with planting grapes for wine in just about every region they conquered.  Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today’s Vine to Wine.