Petit Verdot: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
| Petit Verdot The name means ‘small green’ and references one of its main problems, that often the berries fail to develop properly without the right weather occurring during flowering. It is a late varietal that requires regular watering. This grape probably predates Cabernet Sauvignon but this is unresolved. Earliest records appear to be 18th c. However, its characteristics suggest a different origin, it is most likely that it originates from the Pyrénées-Atlantiques where it could have been domesticated from wild grapevines. It is a parent of Tressot, the other parent is Duras, that originated in the upper Tarn valley, Toulouse. It is suggested that both were brought to the region by Romans moving inland from the Mediterranean. Today, most of the varietal is planted in Bordeaux, the red wine grape is used in its classic blends. Often referenced as a hidden gem, based on its use as a blending component. This grape provides body, colour and will enliven flat wines. It is added as less than 10% of the blend, often as small as 1-2%.  Image source: wine-searcher.com Some years the vintage is lost, it only ripens properly once every four years, so it has tended to fall out of favour. In Australia, Verdot was part of James Busby’s collection of 1832, and trialled by Sir William Macarthur in the 1840s. |
Taste/smell: The grape has been likened to banana and pencil shavings, and as it matures it adds tones of leather and violet. Others suggest its taste as that of ripe black fruits, plums, cassis – plus graphite and dried herbs.  Image source: mcclaincellars.com Varieties/Mutations There are four certified Petit Verdot clones. | Description:  Image source: brixandcolumns.com it produces more than two clusters per shoot. It produces small, cylindrical bunches of small black berries. When fully ripe, it produces very powerful, rich, coloured and tannic wines.  Image source: plantgrape.fr The adult leaves have three to five lobes with a distinctively elongated central lobe. |
Petit Verdot producing countries: Image source: winefolly.com Big Five Producers: (overall 42% of vineyards, 64% of wine production and 41% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Spain: Andalusia France: Bordeaux, Italy: Lazio, Tuscany USA: Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Chile: Colchagua Valley Next Ten Largest Producers: (with big five, responsible overall for 75% of vineyards, 88% of wine production, 64% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Argentina: Barrancas, Maipú, Mendoza; Calchaquí Valley; La Rioja; Uco Valley Australia: Barossa, McLaren Vale China: Shandong, Xinjiang Germany: not detected India: not detected New Zealand: not detected Portugal: some in Alentejo Romania: Dobrogea South Africa: Paarl, Robertson, Stellenbosch, Turkey: Aegean, Thrace Others countries growing Petit Verdot: Canada (British Columbia), Lebanon, Peru (Ica), | Grape is also known as: Bonton blanc, Bouton, Carmelin, Fer (Argentina), Heran, Lambrusquet noir, Petit Verdau, Petit Verdot Noir, Plant de Palus, Verdau, Verdot, Verdot Petit, Verdot Rouge. |
Image source: winefolly.com
Petit Verdot: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
