International Petit Verdot Day Is Scheduled For January 25

Petit Verdot isn't just for blending. Join in celebrating this full-bodied red grape during its international celebration this month.

Sure, I've known about Petit Verdot for many years. In those first years, though, it was 1% here or 3% there, added to a French Bordeaux or an American red blend. My eyes were opened more than a decade ago during a trip to Virginia wine country.

A pre-conference excursion during the Wine Bloggers Conference led me from Charlottesville, Virginia, to the Flying Fox winery. There they poured a glass of 100% Virginia Petit Verdot. Boom. It was silky and rich, flowing with ripe flavors. I became enlightened to the wonders of single-varietal Petit Verdot.

Since then I've sought out Petit Verdot and have enjoyed wonderful bottles from Moon Mountain, Walla Walla, Bordeaux, North Carolina, Colorado, and Argentina. Who knows what other bottles are just faded memories? The point is that single-varietal Petit Verdot is a thing, and it is a thing you should be enjoying right now. We've got the ideal opportunity for you.

The inaugural International Petit Verdot Day, a global celebration dedicated to one of the wine industry's most intriguing varietals, Petit Verdot, is scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2025. This event aims to bring together wine enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and producers to honor and explore the unique characteristics and versatility of Petit Verdot. 

Petit Verdot translates from French as "little green one" and it ripens later than most red wine grapes. In fact, that characteristic led to much of the French Petit Verdot vines being uprooted and replaced with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which ripen earlier. Today, you'll find Petit Verdot in wide-ranging locales, from Argentina to California to Australia. You'll experience a range of flavors from plum to black cherry and herbal notes such as cooking spice and perhaps violet. For International Petit Verdot Day, you may wish to compare Petit Verdot from different countries.

International Petit Verdot Day is the effort of Arthur Barham, a sommelier and wine judge from North Carolina. He is the creator of Merlot2Muscadine, media created to advance the wines and wineries of North Carolina. “International Petit Verdot Day is an exciting opportunity for wine lovers around the

world to come together and appreciate the complexity of Petit Verdot,” said Barham. It's his hope that this special day will foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the grape variety, whether as part of a blend or as a standalone wine. He notes that Petit Verdot does exceptionally well in North Carolina.

To celebrate this special day, Barham will facilitate and encourage a series of events, including tastings, educational seminars, and wine pairings at wineries and wine bars worldwide. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtags #PetitVerdotDay and #InternationalPetitVerdotDay to connect with fellow enthusiasts and discover the diverse expressions of this varietal.

To learn more about how you can participate (as a wine lover, winery, wine bar, or wine influencer) go to the International Petit Verdot Day web page.