Napa Valley Alternative Grapes

https://www.winemag.com/2021/06/02/napa ... te-change/

Interesting, so I share. Among grapes I've experienced, outside of Napa:

Alicante Bouschet
Aglianico
Petite Sirah
Zinfandel
Tempranillo
Touriga National
Carignan

Very interesting. I read an article recently in the RVF about Bordeaux also looking at alternative varieties and recall that Touriga Nacional was also on their list. I guess that the Bordelais climate and people will be slower to change than California's but I believe that some bolder spirits are already making wine there out of Chardonnay and Syrah . If I can find that article, I will give more details.

[David M. Bueker]

It will be a slow change, but there will be a change. Look to Matthiasson for the range of possibilities. They make all sorts of things in Napa.

The search for alternative varieties at Bordeaux has actually gone further than I indicated in my previous post. The Appellations d'Origine Institute (INAO) has actually authorised the use of 6 additional varieties for experimental trials lasting 10 years with the possibility of an extension of a further 10 years. 52 varieties were considered and some rejected on being too strongly associated with other appellations, e.g. Gros & Petit Manseng at Jurançon. The list is as follows -


Black grapes

Arinarnoa - a cross between Tannat & Cab Sauv

Castets

Marselan - a cross bertween CabSauv and Grenache

Touriga Nacional


White grapes

Alvarinho

Liliorila - cross Baroque and Chardonnay

Interesting info, Tim. Learned some new crosses. And it seems they are looking to Portuguese grapes and a bit of southern/southwest France.

With so many regions looking for new grapes, and so many looking towards Spain and Portugal, I hope somebody tries Ramisco. I have no clue if it would working Napa, but the wines are amazing and it's next to impossible to find sadly.

[Jenise]

Kasey, I've heard of many grapes I've never even tried but not even heard of that one.

https://www.wine-searcher.com/grape-782-ramisco

Intellectual curiosity got me. Portuguese.

[Jenise]

That part I understood from Kasey's post; but I'm pretty sure I haven't had it. Portugese grapes are a mystery bag to me!

That part I understood from Kasey's post; but I'm pretty sure I haven't had it. Portugese grapes are a mystery bag to me!

Jenise, perhaps you haven't heard of Ramisco but you surely have heard of Colares where it is the grape variety? Colares has a sort of mythical status for me because its vines are planted in sandy soil near the Atlantic seaside and are said to be phylloxera resistant and therefore still on their original roots. Its red wine is reputed to be very long lived and potentially very fine. Alas, the small handful of bottles which have come my way have all been undrinkable . I live in hope but I read a few years ago that Colares wines are almost extinct because of the difficulties of cultivation and the temptation of sell the land to real estate developers of seaside properties, which are in demand from the residents of nearby Lisbon. http://www.wineanorak.com/colares.htm

[David M. Bueker]

Well OK then! I can add Ramisco to my life list of grapes. I had forgotten (or never realized) it was the grape of Colares.

Alicante bouschet grapes are unusual in that they have red flesh as well as intensely dark skins. The variety's main use in the past has been to impart a suitable red color to cheap French plonk made from aramon. There was a varietal California alicante bouschet once in the monthly shipment from a wine club I belonged to. The wine was totally forgettable (triple Shemp in the Stooges rating system), except for the deep, opaque black color.

-Paul W.