The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) hosts “The Petite Masters”, an immersion into the American heritage grape Petite Sirah.
The sold out inagural “Petite Masters” event featured the top winemakers of premium Petite Sirah grown in the Napa Valley and beyond. This educational presentation began in the tasting theater with a round table conversation led by a panel of expert winemakers introduced by Stephanie Douglas of Aratas Wine and moderated by Somm/ Wine Writer and Educator, Christopher Sawyer. The tasting welcomed consumers, producers and many members of the press eager to learn more about unique Petite and its recent resurgence. The sought after variety is back in vogue and more popular than ever with winemakers and savvy consumers alike.
Taste makers live; Tres Goetting of Biale Vineyards, Tegan Passalaqua of Turley Wines, Mike Hirby of Relic and Aaron Pott of Quixote Winery and Russel Bevan of Chase Cellars joined together to share what they love about producing with Petite. Petite Sirah’s extraordinary pioneering journey to America let the variety to become one of the founding cornerstones in America’s rich wine history. Today, the all-American varietal Petite Sirah is a grape on the move and trending in popularity. Twenty five producers were invited to pour their specialty wines, many presented limited editions and hard to find wines.
Following an informative and open conversation with the makers attendees had the opportunity to take in the stunning CIA Copia campus while tasting top wines from many of Napa Valley’s vintners, including Aratas Wine. The wines were paired with gourmet bites from the Copia kitchen. Proceeds from the event support the PSILOVEYOU advocacy organization. www.PSILoveYou.org. Learn more about the Culinary Institute of America’s new Napa campus by visiting www.CIAatCopia.com
Location: CIA COPIA, education center for the food arts
500 First Street, Napa, CA 94559