De Bortoli offers Durif to UK indies

Yarra Valley estate De Bortoli has imported a limited parcel of Deen Vat 1 Durif 2010 specifically for UK independent merchants and regional wholesalers.

Part of the Deen Vat Series range created by Deen De Bortoli with the idea of offering full-flavoured wines at affordable prices, the wine hails from the Riverina region in New South Wales.

The black-skinned Durif, also known as Petite Sirah, originated as a cross of Syrah pollen germinating a Peloursin plant and was named after the man who discovered it, Dr. Francois Durif.

A botanist at the University of Montpellier, he chanced upon the first Durif vine in a Peloursin vineyard near the university in 1880.

While the grape is not widely grown in Australia, it has attracted a loyal following.

Durif has an intense fleshy palate and displays rich, spicy fruit along with well balanced, firm tannins, making it a good pairing for red meats and casseroles.