The red grape variety (also Centurian) is a new cross between Olmo F2-7 (Mazuelo x Cabernet Sauvignon) x Garnacha Tinta. The cross was made in 1949 by Dr. Harold P. Olmo (1909-2006) at the California Agricultural Experiment Station. By the way, the Carnelian variety was also created with the same parents. The parent variety was already created in 1936 during the development of the Ruby Cabernet variety. The breeding goal was a special variety for the relatively hot and dry Californian conditions. The early to medium ripening vine has berries rich in sugar. It yields red wines of simple character that are used almost exclusively as blends in consumer wines. The variety is grown in California in the San Joaquin Valley (Central Valley). In 2016, 33 hectares of vineyards were reported with a decreasing tendency (Kym Anderson).
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Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)