Kings River Winery - Alicante Bouschet
Lovers of Big Reds - Look to Alicante Bouschet
Alicante Bouschet ripens late and loves hot, dry areas with lots of sun. Just under 1,000 acres of Alicante Bouschet grow in California, particularly in the warm, central valley regions of Lodi and Madera.
In the mid-1900s, many French and American producers realized that Alicante Bouschet wasn’t a must for rich colored wines. Winemakers no longer needed the grape’s rich color, so growth declined. Don’t worry both Portugal and Spain have planted more Alicante Bouschet over the last 50 years. Honestly, it’s probably better suited to the climates in these two countries anyway. This wine has many a red wine lover discovering Alicante Bouschet is quite the find!