Petit Verdot: Known as a blending grape, lately it’s been gaining fans on its own. Washington winemakers have some lovely styles. Expect a deep rich color, lots of tannins….and a bit of violet to brighten it up. It’s a favorite here, especially on cold nights or when you want a bold wine (hi explorers).
It’s known as a blending grape to add color (deep, inky purple color) or tannins and structure to the wine. For example, it’s often added in small amounts to Cabernet Sauvignon. On its’ own, it is a big, robust wine perfect for summer evenings when you grill or winter evenings when you are into stews and roasts. A fun fact: “petit” means “little” in French, and “vert” means green – even though the grape itself is dark purple when it matures.
While gaining fans in Washington, there is still not a lot of Petit Verdot planted here. It ripens late in the season and can be challenging to grow. Only 896 tons were harvested in 2023. But compare that to 2021, when it was still part of the “Other” category. It’s coming into its’ own and it’s being shown off as its’ own varietal. We’ll offer some of these – and when we do, grab it when you see it. With wines from boutique winemakers, the amount available is even lower. This is because so little is planted and it has so many uses.
Washington wine statistics from the Washington State Wine Commission
About Wine Grapes
Welcome to our glossary. Here we share a bit about wine grapes that we mention on our site and in our social media. Washington has wines representing each grape. There is a lot more to learn, and we encourage you to do as much as you want. Have some fun with learning just enough to enjoy wine more.