The California Grape Crush Reports says that 2,272 tons of Mourvedre (known as Mataro in the report) were crushed in 2005. One assumes other states crushed lots less.

The mourvedre grape probably comes from Spain (where it's called monastrell). It has been part of California “field blends” for more than a century. It produces sturdy wines with good acid and some astringency, and can develop enticing blackberry aromas and flavors: meaty, intense wines that age well. Mourvedre is notable in France as the prime ingredient in the red and rose wines of Bandol. California’s early Rhone Rangers were responsible for rescuing precious acreage of old Mourvedre plantings in the 1970s; total acreage now is around 850.

At our 2006 San Francisco tasting, only the following wineries poured Mourvedre: Bonny Doon, Cline Cellars, Domaine de la Terre Rouge, Fenestra, Holly's Hill, Lava Cap, McCrea Cellars, Tablas Creek and Thomas Coyne.

The August issue of the Wine Business Monthly had a great story on Mourvedre that provides many additional details on style, including notes on French, California and Australian versions. Click the link below to read on...

It may be harvest, but it might not be quite cold enough to break out grandma's pot roast recipe or aunt Natasha's tretise on borscht. On the other hand, there's still plenty of time for autumn grilling.

Get in the cold weather and red wine mood with this grilled brochette recipe from Jane O'Riordan at Domaine de la Terre Rouge. Her cookbook is entitled "Rhone Appetit."

If you've got a favorite recipe that simply cries out for a Rhone varietal wine to accompany it, please consider letting us publish it in the SilverBULLETin. Even if we don't use it here, we'd love to make all recipes submitted available on the Rhone Rangers website.

Los Angeles Trade Tasting

We're on the lookout for a venue for our next trade tasting in Los Angeles. We're targeting Monday, April 23 in the afternoon. More information will go out after the first of the year.

If you're a winery member and have suggestions or opinions on which regional markets we should be looking at for future tastings or events, please let us know in the Rhone Rangers office, (800) 467-0163, or info@rhonerangers.org.

General Membership Meeting in January, 2007

While the Rhone Rangers directors get together quarterly, we only hold one general membership meeting annually.

So if you're headed for the Unified Symposium in Sacramento in January, 2007, be sure to plan and join us for the annual Rhone Rangers general membership dinner meeting. We'll be at Lucca Ristorante, on J Street, within walking or cab distance from most downtown hotels.

The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. and will feature plenty of Rhone varietal wines with Lucca's excellent food. Price will be around $35, depending upon how many people sign up. Dinner will include salad, choice of entree (pasta or meat dish) and dessert.

Look for more information in early December.

New Rhone Rangers Website is Coming...

It should be up in mid-November...finally, a secure site packed with useful info on Rhone varietal grapes and wines. Tell your friends!