Unveiling the Secret of Domina Grapes: A Lesser-Known Gem in the Wine World
- Amy Duncan
- Mar 1, 2024
- 3 min read
As most who have read my blogs, I am humble in the fact that I am new to the wine business, not to wine drinking, but the business. I love learning new things and tasting wines that I would have likely not tried before the venture began. My newest aha comes in a little guy or grape, call Domina.
Domina fun facts!
Domina is a grape that was born from the affair of the Portugieser grape and the Pinot Noir grape in 1927. When I learned this I was shocked it had been around so long and I have never hear of it! I also looked up on the handy dandy website: www.winesearcher.com and found only three available from New York. The grape originated in the Palatinate region in Germany and is most grown only in the Franken region in Germany where the conditions are perfect for this variety. There are a few vines left in Switzerland. It is a dark red to black grape and when you see this wine itself you will be able to see that beautiful coloring in your glass. This wine is sometimes added for coloring other red wine blends. The aromas of cherry and blackberries. The flavor is fruity and delicate that could be enjoyed everyday. I personally could drink this wine by a fire, watching a movie or any type of pasta, pizza, or even Mediterranean dishes.
Hey Hey Hey... One grape at a time? From Domina wine to yummy Red Blends...
Or not! Above, I mentioned that Domina's beautiful color is added to red wines. There are many delicious red blends, in fact I would be shocked if you haven't already had some and don't even know it. Red blends have been around since wine making begun. We don't always know what is a blend. It's easy when the label reflects the grape variety in reds like Merlot or Pinot Noir, though in the U.S. if the wine is 75% of one grape it can be labeled as one. But, in the cases that the labels reflect where they come from, it's not easy to know. An example of these are Chianti Classico or Rioja. It makes me wonder if it should be something that we should even care about. Red blends are gaining popularity because by combining the varieties they show more balance and complexity. Some popular blends are Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot; Merlot & Malbec; Pinot Noir, Merlot & Dekapo (Hey!!... I have that, and it's wonderful, shameless plug)
It wouldn't be right if I didn't give you some to try
One of my favorite magazines is Food and Wine. Of course they have a list of the 13 Best Red Blends. https://www.foodandwine.com/best-red-blend-wines-8575310
So as I was researching they also had a great article with 43 Red Wines... you can find that here:
In conclusion...
This blog yes is rather short, but hopefully gave you a little bit of info on Domina, which is coming soon to Florida and the red blends. Red wines, to me, are tough to find. I have tried many and gone through phases of different ones that I just can't get enough of and now rarely drink. Point being, try them. There are some really great reds out there that are light and fruity to bold and complex. Cheers!
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