Durif (dur-EEF)
A variety created sometime just before the 1860s by French botanist Francois Durif. A cross of syrah and the now obscure French grape peloursin. Though Durif has virtually disappeared in France, it lives on in California, where it is known as petite sirah. Alas, some (but a minority) of so-called petite sirah vineyards in California are simply peloursin and some may be extensive field blends that include peloursin and durif.