Editing Durif (section)

== History ==
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 identified and named ''Plant du Rif'' (later Durif) by ampelographer [[Victor Pulliat]] in 1868.<ref name="Wine Grapes">J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz ''Wine Grapes – A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours'' pp. 316-317 & 779, Allen Lane 2012 {{ISBN|978-1-846-14446-2}}.</ref>

As a conclusion of [[DNA fingerprinting]] at the [[University of California, Davis]] in 1997, Syrah was identified as the source of the pollen that originally crossed with Peloursin flowers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psiloveyou.org/about_ps.php|title=Petite Sirah Timeline|publisher=Petite Sirah Advocacy Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819205824/http://www.psiloveyou.org/about_ps.php |archive-date=2006-08-19}}</ref> The grape's high resistance to [[downy mildew]] encouraged its cultivation in the early 20th century in areas like [[Isère]] and [[Ardèche]], although the relative low quality of the resulting wine caused the grape to fall out of favor with local wine authorities. Today, it is almost nonexistent in France.<ref name="Oxford p 244">J. Robinson ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition p. 244, Oxford University Press 2006 {{ISBN|0-19-860990-6}}.</ref>