Ruby Cabernet

[Catch 22]

I was just wondering if anyone has heard of a grape variety/variation known as Ruby Cabernet. I purchased some of these grapes last fall to make my own wine. While racking it yesterday, I of course sampled it, and was quite pleased with how well it is coming along. It is both fuller bodied and deeper colored than the Merlot I made at the same time. One would think it was closely related to Cabernet Sauvignon just by the name, but often, marketing takes precedence over reality.

[Innkeeper]

Ruby Cabernet was developed at UC Davis between forty and fifty years ago. It is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan. I believe the objective was to come up with something better than Carignan as a blending grape for jug wines. At one time it was widely grown in California and even varietally bottle by quite a few wineries back in the '60s and early '70s. A couple of them were halfway decent. Don't know of any pure varietals today, but a few blends are still kicking around. Celebration Cellars (888-897-8698) make a Harvest Red Premium Table Wine which is a blend of Ruby Cab and Barbera. Wellington puts out a Rubignon which is a blend of Ruby Cab and Cabernet Sauvignon. Wattleglen's blend is Ruby Cab and Shiraz. The latter two wineries are in some other part of the English speaking wine world.