Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah Dry Creek Valley

The oldest petite sirah vines on our Lytton Estate were planted in 1901 and the youngest in 2008. We made our first wine from the property in 1972 and until 2002 when we bottled portions of the petite sirah as a separate wine for a limited release, it had always been included in the Lytton Springs Zinfandel. In 2003 we made another limited release and in 2009 our first national release.

2016 Vintage

Mild August weather created ideal ripening conditions for the petite sirah at Lytton West. The six vineyard blocks were fermented separately for seven days. We selected two hillside parcels to bring depth and texture to the young vines block. After twelve months of barrel aging, tannins have integrated and the wine is beginning to soften. This exemplary petite sirah will develop over the next ten years.

2017 Vintage

Heavy winter rains replenished groundwater and gave the vines a much needed break from the drought. The petite sirah at Lytton Springs responded with a full crop. A series of very warm days in August, however, caused stress on the vines and a loss of twenty percent of the fruit. An adjacent block of zinfandel was included to soften tannins. This full- bodied petite sirah will be enjoyable over the next fifteen years.