Your April wines are here!

Que Sera, Sera, Petite Sirah!

March was an exciting month for us. If you haven’t heard, we took over the coffee shop next door to us. We changed the name to Hidden Track Café (coffee & more). We expanded the menu to include breakfast burritos, CHEESE, bread, salads, and we got a BYOB license! Did we mention CHEESE? We will slowly be adding small production, artisanal, hard to find, amazingly delicious cured meat and cheese options that we are very excited to share with our incredible downtown community (and anyone who comes to see us from beyond downtown!). And if you decide to stop over and enjoy a bottle of wine or beer, we will waive the corkage fee for all club members with the purchase of a food item!

OK, time for some Petite wine talk. Syrah vs Petite Sirah vs Shiraz, in fact. We have been asked many times about the difference between these. First, Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. The Australians call the Syrah grape Shiraz… ’cause they can! Petite Sirah is a different grape. Syrah comes from (or became notable via) the Rhône Valley in France and is a cross between two virtually extinct varietals called Dureza and Mondeuse. Exactly when Syrah was created is unknown. Petite Sirah is actually a grape called Durif. Durif was created by crossing Syrah and Peloursin sometime in the 19th century. Petite Sirah took on its name most likely because the grapes and leaves looked similar to Syrah, however, the grapes were slightly smaller.

Tasting notes for Petite Sirah and Syrah: Petite Sirah (Durif) – Big, powerful, intense wine. Inky dark purple (stain your glass stuff) with notes of blueberry, plum, and chocolate. Best to drink within 5-7 years of production as acid falls off fast. It is so dark and tannic because the grapes are a bit smaller and thus more pigment from the skins is prevalent. Syrah – Intense and elegant. Dark rich colors with notes of blackberry, blueberry, and boysenberry. Soft tannins and balanced acid. Syrah can be made to drink early or have years in the cellar.

And your April selections are…

831 Wine Company, Monterey, CA

We recently came across a small, family-operated winery that was not available in AZ called 831 Wine Company. Bob Balentine is the owner and winemaker. His goal is to showcase the sub-appellations of Monterey, CA and make world class terroir driven wines. 831 is a nod to the local area code from which the wine is sourced and made.

831 Chardonnay
Stainless steel fermented, then barrel aged in French oak for nine months. Tropical notes of citrus, pear, and pineapple with undertones of honey. Touch of spice on the finish as well.

831 Petite Sirah
We haven’t featured a Petite Sirah in the Club yet and are very excited to be able to release this selection from 831! This “Durif” is also barrel aged in French oak for nine months. It showcases ripe, balanced fruit with deep dark color. Notes of plum, dark cherry, and blueberry with accents of mocha, vanilla, and slowly escalating tannins. We know this one is going to be a hit.

Wine Club Cheese Pairing: Dalmatinac

Looking for just the right cheese to enjoy with April’s wine club? We fervently recommend Dalmatinac cheese!

Type: Semi-firm cow and sheep milk
Origin: Pag Island, Croatia
Aged: 4 months
Flavor: Buttery, toasted nut flavors with salt and herbal notes
Fun Fact: The Island of Pag is rocky and steep, which makes it inhospitable for cows. Sheep, however, enjoy this terrain and thus this cheese producer sources cow milk from the mainland in Croatia and ships it over to the Island to make this beautiful cheese! Pick up a slice or two from the Café when you pick up your club wines.