In the Petaluma Gap, Pinot Noir often gets the first introduction. It is the variety many people come looking for: elegant, expressive, and deeply shaped by the cool marine influence of the region.

But at Keller Estate, another wine steps forward with unexpected confidence.

Syrah.

The 2024 Dark Horse Syrah is our boldest release of the season: a cool-climate Syrah grown in the wind, fog, and mineral-rich soils of the Petaluma Gap. It is intense without being heavy, structured without losing freshness, and savory in a way that speaks directly to the estate.

It is the bottle for those who love discovering something unexpected.

The dark horse.

Why Syrah Is the Dark Horse of the Petaluma Gap

The Petaluma Gap is widely recognized for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but Syrah has a powerful story to tell here.

Every afternoon, wind rolls in from Bodega Bay, cooling the vineyards and slowing ripening. This tension shapes the fruit, preserves acidity, and builds the concentration that gives Keller Estate wines their lift and energy.

For Syrah, that stress is a gift.

The variety responds with thicker skins, deeper color, savory spice, tannin structure, and natural freshness. Instead of feeling overly ripe or broad, this cool-climate Syrah leans into minerality, balance, and depth.

Dark fruit. Black pepper. Earth. Structure. A long finish that keeps unfolding.

What Makes the 2024 Vintage Special

The 2024 Dark Horse Syrah was crafted with care from vineyard to cellar.

The fruit was hand sorted, cold soaked for seven days, and native fermented in open-top tanks with two to three punchdowns daily. The wine then spent 15 months in French oak, with 30% new oak, developing richness while preserving its cool-climate precision.

The result is a wine with real presence: mouth-filling tannins, crisp acidity, dark fruit, savory spice, and an earthy finish that lingers.

Bold, but not loud.
Powerful, but still refined.

A wine built for summer tables, open-fire cooking, long dinners, and anyone ready to look beyond the expected.

In the Glass

The 2024 Dark Horse Syrah opens with deep, concentrated fruit and a savory edge. It is generous, layered, and structured, with a flavor profile made for food.

Expect notes of:

• Blackberry
• Cassis
• Black pepper
• Sage
• Dark plum
• Sweet tobacco
• Dark chocolate
• Earthy finish

There is intensity here, but also freshness: the kind of acidity that keeps the wine alive at the table, and the kind of tannin that calls for bold flavors.

What to Pair with Dark Horse Syrah

Dark Horse was made for food with confidence.

It wants smoke, spice, richness, herbs, char, and depth. It works beautifully with summer grilling, slow-cooked meats, aged cheeses, and dishes with savory-sweet contrast.

A few pairing ideas we love:

• Hoisin Pork Belly Bao
  A winery favorite. The richness of pork belly, the sweetness of hoisin, and the softness of bao create a beautiful contrast with Dark Horse’s tannin, spice, and acidity.
• Grilled Lamb with Rosemary and Garlic
  Syrah and lamb are a classic pairing. The wine’s peppery structure and earthy finish pair naturally with rosemary, garlic, and char from the grill.
• Braised Short Ribs or Beef Stew
  For slower summer evenings or cooler Petaluma nights, Dark Horse has enough structure to stand up to deep, savory dishes.
• Aged Cheeses
  Try it with Manchego, aged cheddar, or other firm cheeses with nutty, salty depth.
• Anything from a Wood-Fired Grill
  Smoke, char, and dark fruit belong together. Dark Horse is a natural choice for grilled meats, mushrooms, eggplant, and fire-kissed vegetables.

A Bold Wine for Summer Gatherings

Although Syrah is often thought of as a cold-weather wine, Dark Horse belongs at the summer table.

It has the structure for grilled dishes, the freshness for outdoor dining, and the personality for gatherings where the food is generous and the conversations last longer than expected.

Pour it for a 4th of July dinner. Open it beside the grill. Bring it to the table with something smoky, spicy, or deeply savory.

It is a wine for people who like flavor with confidence.

The Artist Series Connection

Dark Horse is also part of a larger creative story at Keller Estate.

The label features artwork by Grace Keller, Ana Keller’s sister, whose expressive “Plunge into Color” series helped launch the Keller Estate Artist Series. Through these labels, wine becomes more than something to pour. It becomes a canvas for family, color, creativity, and the emotional life of the estate.

That connection feels especially fitting for Dark Horse.

A Bold wine deserves bold artwork.

Discover the 2024 Dark Horse Syrah

The 2024 Dark Horse Syrah is an invitation to experience a different side of the Petaluma Gap: one shaped by wind, ancient seabed soils, organic farming, native fermentation, and the belief that some of the most memorable wines are the ones you did not expect first.

Everyone comes to the Petaluma Gap for Pinot Noir.

Then they discover Syrah.

Shop the 2024 Dark Horse Syrah
Explore the full Artist Series Collection