Red wine grape · Vitis vinifera
A red wine grape bred in France from Syrah and Peloursin in the 1880s, better known in California as Petite Sirah.
Plantgrape says this variety was developed by Mr Durif and is the result of a crossbreeding between Syrah and Peloursin. UC Davis FPS independently records France as its country of origin, Durif as the breeder, 1880 as the year released and the pedigree Syrah x Peloursin.
UC Davis FPS maintains a separate Petite Sirah record whose comment quotes the 2005 FPS Grape Program Newsletter: DNA evidence has shown that the name Petite Sirah is associated with three completely different varieties (Durif, Petite Sirah and Peloursin), so FPS uses Durif as the prime name and shows Petite Sirah as a synonym. Plantgrape adds that in Portugal Durif is officially designated Mondet.
Plantgrape describes Durif as low to moderate vigor with a semi-erect to horizontal bearing, rather fertile and able to be pruned short, with berries sensitive to heat and shrivelling and a sensitivity to winter frosts. These are attributed descriptions, not site or frost-protection prescriptions.
Plantgrape describes Durif as sensitive to wood diseases, grey rot and black rot but not very susceptible to downy mildew, and says its bunches and berries are medium in size with average sugar potential, producing colored, fairly tannic and astringent but not very fruity wines. These are reference observations, not treatment or winemaking advice.
Reference review · November 9, 2026
INRAE / IFV cultivar reference. Vine-trait observations belong to this reference's context; they are not universal planting or irrigation recommendations.
Independent institutional variety record used to cross-check cultivar identity and naming. It does not independently validate every agronomic observation in Plantgrape.
Independent institutional variety record used to cross-check cultivar identity and naming. It does not independently validate every agronomic observation in Plantgrape.
Cultivar descriptions are source-attributed reference material, not site prescriptions. No numeric soil-moisture threshold, disease diagnosis, regional suitability guarantee or GroundWorx performance claim is established here.