Petit Verdot
2022 Donati Family Vineyards Petit Verdot – Strong, Bold and Flavorful
Background
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Donati generally means “gift” from the Latin “Donatus”. Their wines are truly gifts for wine connoisseurs.
By Eric 先魁Hwang – https://www.flickr.com/photos/travelwitheric/4008426871/
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grapes classically used in Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than other varieties in Bordeaux, so it was not cultivated to the extent in other portions of the world. The key to Petit Verdot is that it adds tannin, color and flavor when used in small amounts for blending. In the “new world” it has taken off as a standalone varietal. It is speculated that Petit Verdot predates Cabernet Sauvignon, yet the origins are unclear. First records of it appear in the eighteenth century. It is known for much hotter climates, making Paso Robles perfect for this grape!
Per the latest Grape Harvest report by the USDA, Petit Verdot was less than .0077% of the total red wine grape harvest with most going for blending. The AVA’s responsible for 76% of the total Petit Verdot production was Napa, Yolo County, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin and Riverside/San Diego areas.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
This wine is 98.5% Petit Verdot, 1.1% Petite Sirah and .4% Malbec. It is currently slated to be released in late Spring 2026 with only 76 cases being produced. The grapes come from the Bordonaro Vineyard, and the price is slated to be $56/bottle. Donati Family has been producing this as a standalone varietal since 2008! This vintage was allowed to age gracefully for 27 months in barrels. 25% of the barrels were brand new Eastern European oak and the balance of 75% was used more than once. When released it will have been bottled for over one year.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine, when poured into the glass possessed a dark and mysterious magenta color with a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, aromas of black fruits of blackberry, plum and violets rise up into the senses. On the palate, this intensely layered wine provides the aforementioned fruits, coupled with a mellow earthiness. Key characteristics are vanilla and hazelnut counterbalanced by lavender and dried herbs. At the end, this is an inky and bold wine with layers of enjoyment. Personally, I believe this to be a wine to be enjoyed with food as opposed to be a standalone wine.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen this evening to be paired with a stir-fried flank steak. The beef was thinly sliced, tossed in Chaka sauce with Dark & Smoky Flatiron Peppers, kosher salt, black pepper and stir fried on the stovetop. Served with white sesame seeds. Added to the stir fry were broccoli and slices of red pepper. Accompanied with homemade cauliflower rice with egg, onion and pork.
The wine being bold was able to cut thru the meat and yet provide just enough fruit to envelop the lightly spiced meat. Another very good food and wine pairing dinner
The Winery
Photo from Donati Family Vineyard
We met Briana Heywood, the winemaker, two years ago while in Paso Robles. They had won the Best of Class and Double Gold for their Cabernet Franc at the 6th International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition and wanted to understand other wines they produced. Her background prior to joining the Donati Family was at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines for almost 10 years as an enologist and previous experience with a variety of wineries. She is engaging and energetic with a personality that you just love listening to!
The winery produces both a larger scale commercial wine offering and very small artisan & boutique wines for direct customer purchase and their wine club with approximately 600 cases produced for DTC. They are located at 2720 Oak View Road in Templeton, California. Their tasting room is quaint and inviting and more like a family room atmosphere. Many of their other wines are for commercial and mass production with approximately 7,000 cases for the wholesale market. They are moderately priced for the consumer and a welcome change!
While not one of the “big major names” in Paso Robles AVA, they are getting noticed by wine aficionados and discerning wine drinkers. FYI, Briana will be pouring her wines at the Cabernet Franc Wine Stroll (Cab Franc and many others) on March 28th https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2026/02/03/7th-annual-cabernet-franc-and-many-other-wine-varieties-wine-stroll-on-march-28th/
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2023 Wood Family Vineyards Petit Verdot – A Calming Wine for Birria Tacos
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Petit Verdot is best known as a blending wine for Bordeaux style wines. It was used consistently in Bordeaux as it was a late ripening grape varietal and it struggled to reach full maturity. Historically, when used in moderation (1-2%) for blending, Petit Verdot produced wines that were overly tannic and caused the vineyards to decline. More recently however Petit Verdot has had a resurgence due to plantings in warmer climates like California, Australia and Spain. The warmer climates allowing the fruit to fully ripen and provide a distinct character for the varietal. Providing a very drinkable wine full of body, tannins and structure.
Photo from wikipedia
Petit Verdot’s literal translation is “little green one”. This is because it is a late ripening grape from the Bordeaux region in France. It is a commonly used grape in blending, usually in small amounts to add color, tannin, structure and herbaceous notes of violet and sage.
The Wine – “Wine if bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes, this wine is a lavish and royal purple in coloring, unique and contrasting from other varieties. In the glass, it has a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, aromas of violets and lavender along with plum and blackberry rise up to beckon your first sip. Once on the palate the essence of dark fruits, strong tannins and firm acidity greet the imbiber. Blueberry notes soften the impact of the tannins with a silky smoothness and flavor. On the finish, black pepper and spices and dried herbal notes and rustic smoky tastes linger. After the finish, you are struck with its full body, structural characteristics and tannins.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Aging in oak barrels tends to soften the wine with a slight vanilla taste. This wine was aged 18 months in barrel with 33% being new French oak and the balance neutral. The wine is made with 100% Petite Sirah, 94% from One Oak Vineyard and 6% from Smith Ranch Vineyard. The wine come in at 14.8% alcohol and only 64 cases were produced. The anticipated price upon release mid-June is expected at $42/bottle.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The slow cooker Birria Tacos were cooked 8 ½ hours in a slow cooker. Besides the chuck roast, ingredients included chopped yellow onion, garlic cloves, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, chipotle in adobo, crushed fire roasted tomatoes, beef broth, white vinegar, kosher salt, bay leaves, shredded Oaxaca cheese and chopped fresh cilantro. Plated with white rice cooked with cilantro, fresh squeezed lime juice and green onions. Dipping sauce was on the side. This recipe was much easier than our previous one especially having to find all the fresh ingredients (see previous story at: https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2023/08/05/2020-jessies-grove-winery-fancy-quest-old-vine-zinfandel-and-birria-tacos-and-sauce/ .
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The recipe was excellent, and the wine refreshingly calming. A very good food and wine pairing.
The Winery
Photo from Wood Family Vineyards website
Rhonda Wood, winemaker at Wood Family Vineyards, makes some exceptional wines from Livermore, California. The background on the winery can be found in another story at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2021/11/06/2018-wood-family-vineyards-chardonnay/
Rhonda and the family winery are small in comparison to some of Livermore’s known name wineries but have been regarded for years as one of the top-quality wine producers.
From high in the sky to down to earth wines!! Yes Rhonda Wood, winemaker/owner of Wood Family Vineyards used to fly planes (US Airways) but now can be found in the vineyards tending vines. She and husband Michael (with their two sons), have a winery in eastern Livermore. Rhonda started making wine in 1996. Besides sourcing wine on their property, they have 17 specific vineyards which are manicured to their specifications throughout Livermore’s ideal climate.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly