Lodi Winegrape Commission

Alicante Bouschet was first planted at Mohr-Fry Ranch in 1922 during the middle of Prohibition. It was prized for its dark color and thick skins that were easily packed and shipped back east for home winemaking. Citizens could legally make up to 200 gallons for personal consumption, and Alicante became a grape of choice. The variety first came into existence in the mid-1800’s when French Botanist Henri Bouschet crossed Grenache with the teinturier grape Petit Bouschet. Teinturier grapes are redfleshed, whereas most red winegrapes are white fleshed with red skins. The resulting Alicante Bouschet came to be prized for delicious fruitiness and incredibly dark color. The original Mohr-Fry Ranch Alicante Bouschet vineyard was redeveloped in 2013 and came into production in 2016. The variety tends to ripen late, and the resulting wine has an elegance that belies its dark color.