The Mondeuse
Grape
A red grape variety native to the Savoie region of France, producing spicy, full-bodied wines with high acidity and tannins. It offers flavors of dark fruits, pepper, and violets, often with an earthy character, and has a genetic link to Syrah.
Mondeuse
Grape History
Mondeuse is a red wine grape variety that has a long and storied history, originating in the Savoie region of France. The exact origins of Mondeuse are somewhat mysterious, but it is believed to have been cultivated in the Savoie region since Roman times. Mondeuse is known for producing wines with dark color, pronounced tannins, and a spicy, peppery flavor profile.
Historically, Mondeuse was widely planted throughout the Savoie region, particularly in the areas around Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains. However, the vineyard area dedicated to Mondeuse has declined over the years, as the grape has been replaced by more commercially popular varieties. Today, Mondeuse is primarily found in the Savoie region, particularly in the cru vineyards of Arbin and Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte.
Mondeuse is often used as a varietal wine, but it is also commonly blended with other grape varieties, such as Gamay and Pinot Noir. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Mondeuse, both in France and in other wine regions around the world. Winemakers are rediscovering the unique character of Mondeuse and its potential to produce distinctive, terroir-driven wines.
In addition to its traditional home in the Savoie region, Mondeuse is also grown in small quantities in other parts of France, such as the Ardèche and Beaujolais regions. There are also small plantings of Mondeuse in other countries, such as Switzerland and the United States.
The future of the Mondeuse grape variety is promising, as consumers and winemakers alike are increasingly interested in exploring lesser-known grape varieties and regions. Mondeuse's distinctive character and ability to reflect its terroir make it a grape variety with great potential for producing high-quality, expressive wines. As interest in unique and authentic wines continues to grow, we can expect to see more producers experimenting with Mondeuse and showcasing its distinctive qualities to wine lovers around the world.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel