McManis Petit Verdot

McManis Petit Verdot is a full-bodied California red wine from Lodi, available in a standard 750ml bottle. Built around the Petit Verdot grape with supporting portions of Tannat and Petite Sirah, this bottling stands out as one of the more accessible single-varietal Petit Verdot wines on the market — a grape more commonly reserved as a minor blending component in Bordeaux-style reds.

Quick Facts: Origin: Lodi, California  |  Varietal: Petit Verdot (with Tannat & Petite Sirah)  |  Oak: 4–6 months French & American  |  Producer: McManis Family Vineyards

Production & Heritage

McManis Family Vineyards is a family-owned estate based in Ripon, California, farming over 3,000 acres in the rich alluvial soils of the Sacramento River Delta and greater Lodi appellation. The Petit Verdot grapes undergo 7 to 9 days of fermentation on the skins to extract deep color and concentrated fruit character, then are pressed and finish fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine is subsequently aged for 4 to 6 months in a combination of new and used French and American oak barrels, contributing layers of mocha and subtle smokiness without overwhelming the fruit. The winery employs gentle grape handling through Delta Stemmers and Bucher presses with slow-intake hoppers, minimizing harsh tannin extraction at the crush stage.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe blackberry and blueberry dominate the nose immediately, followed by undertones of mocha and a faint trail of oak-derived smokiness. The aromatic profile is generous and darkly fruited, with a richness that signals the wine's density.

Taste: The entry is plush and full of concentrated dark berry fruit — blackberry and blueberry carry the mid-palate with a creamy, supple mouthfeel. As the wine develops across the palate, gentle oak spice and bittersweet chocolate notes emerge, supported by a medium-to-full body that never feels heavy or overworked.

Finish: Long and elegant, with smooth, rounded tannins that linger rather than grip. Residual berry fruit and a whisper of smoky oak persist through the close.

How to Drink McManis Petit Verdot

This wine rewards a slight chill to around 60–65°F and benefits from 15 to 20 minutes of breathing time in the glass, which allows the mocha and berry layers to open fully. A straightforward pour at the dinner table is the ideal primary serve. For cocktail-curious drinkers: try it in a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola over ice), where its deep fruit and smooth tannins hold up against the sweetness; in a Red Wine Sangria with dark stone fruits and a splash of brandy, leveraging the blueberry and blackberry notes; or in a New York Sour, where the wine float adds color and berry complexity over a whiskey sour base.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners featuring grilled red meats or hearty pasta dishes
• Introducing friends to an uncommon single-varietal Petit Verdot at an approachable price point
• Building out a California red wine collection beyond Cabernet and Merlot
• Backyard barbecues where a bold, fruit-forward red complements smoky flavors

Frequently Asked Questions

What does McManis Petit Verdot taste like? Dense blackberry and blueberry flavors lead the palate, supported by mocha and subtle smokiness from oak aging, finishing long with smooth, rounded tannins and a creamy mouthfeel.

How does McManis Petit Verdot compare to McManis Cabernet Sauvignon? The Petit Verdot is generally deeper in color with more concentrated dark berry fruit and a denser body, while the McManis Cabernet Sauvignon — which itself includes a small percentage of Petit Verdot for structure — tends to show more classic cassis and herbal notes. Both share the winery's house style of approachable tannins and oak-influenced warmth, but the Petit Verdot leans darker and more brooding.

Is McManis Petit Verdot good for everyday sipping? Yes — its smooth tannins and fruit-forward character make it easy to enjoy on any evening without requiring extended decanting or cellaring, though a short rest in the glass does help it open up.

Where is McManis Petit Verdot made? McManis Family Vineyards is located in Ripon, California, farming vineyards in the Lodi appellation and Sacramento River Delta, one of California's most productive wine-growing regions known for warm days and cool delta breezes.

What foods pair well with McManis Petit Verdot? Grilled lamb chops benefit from the wine's dark fruit intensity; smoked beef brisket mirrors its subtle smokiness; aged cheddar or Gouda echo its creamy texture; dark chocolate desserts complement the mocha undertones; and roasted portobello mushrooms provide an earthy counterpoint to the dense berry fruit.

What sizes does McManis Petit Verdot come in? McManis Petit Verdot is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is McManis Petit Verdot worth the price? McManis positions this wine squarely in the value tier for California reds, delivering a single-varietal Petit Verdot experience — a grape that typically commands higher prices in Bordeaux-style blends — at an entry-level price point that significantly overdelivers on concentration and complexity.

Why McManis Petit Verdot?

Petit Verdot is rarely bottled as a standalone varietal; most producers use it in small percentages to add color, tannin, and violet aromatics to Cabernet-based blends. McManis takes the unusual step of giving the grape center stage, producing a wine that showcases its naturally deep pigmentation, dense fruit character, and structured finish. The blend of Tannat and Petite Sirah reinforces rather than dilutes that identity, adding backbone and inky richness. For anyone looking to explore beyond mainstream California reds, this bottling delivers a genuine varietal experience at a price point that makes experimentation painless.