100% Petite Sirah. Spent 6 months in French & American oak barrels

The rocks of Concannon Vineyard tell a tale rich in history. They tell the story of a fiercely determined Irishman who risked everything to plant vines in the rocky soil of Livermore Valley in 1883, establishing one of California's oldest wineries. James Concannon was born on St. Patrick's Day in 1847 in the Aran Islands, off the coast of Ireland. It was his strong character, perseverance and adventurous spirit that brought James to the New World, where he became the first Irish vintner to take advantage of California’s unparalleled winegrowing potential. After leaving Ireland for New York, James found his way West and was eager to pursue new ventures in California. It was here that he discovered the Livermore Valley, with its unusual east-west orientation and rocky soil, which was strikingly similar to the famous winemaking areas of southern France. In 1883, he planted his first forty acres with premium Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapevine cuttings from France’s legendary Chateau d'Yquem. He later imported the first cuttings from the hybrid Petite Sirah vine developed by French viticulturist Francois Durif.

When Prohibition came into effect in the 1920s, Concannon Vineyard was among a few wineries legally permitted to continue operation during Prohibition under special dispensation from San Francisco's Archbishop Alemany making sacramental wines. In the decades that followed, Concannon embodied its founder’s pioneering spirit. Its eye for winemaking talent hired America’s first professional female winemaker in 1950, a Hungarian ballerina named Katherine Vajda. The early focus on Petite Sirah led Concannon to produce America's first varietally-labeled Petite Sirah, a 1961 vintage released in 1964. Their early passion for Bordeaux varieties led to the development of the Concannon Cabernet Sauvignon clones 7, 8 and 11, also known as the Concannon clones, widely adopted in Napa Valley vineyards and responsible for some of their most prestigious Cabernets. This history of firsts has secured Concannon Vineyard's prominent place in the annals of California viticulture.

Today, 4th generation vintner John Concannon works closely with his father, Jim Concannon, to blend rich tradition with modern innovation and renew the family's commitment to crafting the finest wines possible.