July 2023 update -- Ramona

​I have brought you information on many unique and rare varietals, but I’m sure you keep wondering why I keep ignoring the one you really are interested in.  I mean, after all, it has to be high on just about everyone’s bucket list.  What, you don’t know what grape I am talking about???  Come on now, you know – a grape that makes a spicy red wine with a distinct violet aroma?  Of course I’m talking about Negrette!!!
Negrette, you say?  Never heard of it?  OK, the grape is virtually extinct, and never was very highly planted in the first place.  A few vines here and there in Southwestern France (Fronton) and a few vines in the US….  Well, heard of it or not, thanks to the folks at Mermaid Valley Vineyard in Ramona this very rare and unusual grape has been made into a unique red wine with, as noted above, high spice and a strong violet aroma.

​While I don’t usually look at wine/food pairings, my wife and I discovered entirely by accident that this wine goes very well with mushroom-containing dishes, something we could also have learned by reading the literature….  Anyway, they have only enough vines to make one barrel of wine, so if you are interested in trying this unique wine you should get over there soon.  A word of warning – Mermaid Valley is only open on Saturdays.  Oh, while there pay attention to the Zinfandel.  Their 2018 vintage is outstanding, and they still have plenty of their wonderful 2017 vintage available.

​And speaking of outstanding vintages, Chuparosa in Ramona has finally released their 2016 Sangiovese and 2018 North Block Blend.  The former is pretty much a Brunello – though, of course, they can’t call it that – and the latter an excellent Super Tuscan – also a name that they should not use.  Names aside, both are outstanding and go well with food, unless the food has a strong mushroom taste, in which case you should serve Negrette….