Wyatt and I were recently on vacation with his parents in Bald Head Island, North Carolina — a beautiful, quaint town off the coast near Southport and Wilmington. Hauling over quite a few bottles of wine on the ferry proved to be well worth the muscle power! Our first night there, we tried the 2007 Spellbound Petite Sirah from Napa, California. WOW! I’d read a bit about Petite Sirah but mostly just remembered that it’s nothing like regular Sirah/Shiraz (who knows why they’re named as if they were). This wine was smooth and velvety – great fruit flavor but heavier and more subtle than my usual Pinot Noir faves. The tannins weren’t offensive! They complemented the wine perfectly.

I wasn’t surprised when I found the Spellbound website only to discover that Rob Mondavi (son of THE Robert Mondavi) is one of the folks behind this lovely and delicious concoction.

In addition to the Petite Sirah, the Spellbound line also offers Cab Sauv, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Old Vine Zin. These are on my list to try in the future!

Next time: Get a case!
Origin: Napa, California
Where: Highland Wine & Crystal
Price: $13.50