Durif produces tannic wines with a spicy, plummy flavour. The grape originated as a cross of Syrah pollen germinating a Peloursin plant. On some occasions, Peloursin and Syrah vines may be called Petite Sirah, usually because the varieties are extremely difficult to distinguish in old age. In the 1860s the French botanist François Durif kept a nursery of several grape varieties at his home in the commune of Tullins where he most likely had plantings of both Peloursin and Syrah. At some point the two vines cross pollinated and Durif discovered a new grape variety growing in his nursery. It was
Creston District AVA acres with 1,365 planted in vineyards. It lies on an old erosional plateau at the base of the La Panza Range with alluvial terraces and fans of Huerhuero Creek. The area is in elevation. Average annual rainfall is . The district's soils consist of old, well developed terrace and hillside soils; mix of granite and sedimentary rock. The most widely planted varieties in the Creston District AVA are Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah. Creston District AVA Creston District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the south east portion of the Paso Robles AVA in San Luis