One More Bottle of Wine: Jomagrha Vineyards Cayras

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jul 8, 2008 4:30PM

Hybrid grapes, with regard to winemaking, are often ignored or ridiculed by the wine "experts." Sometimes this is with good reason; a mere mention of the word "chardonel" transports us back to Sundays at the Magic Pan.

But these "frankengrapes" have their attributes. One such grape is the cayuga, a hybrid of Seyval Blanc and Schuyler that vintners from the Finger Lakes to the Midwest have embraced for its ability to withstand frost, its high-yield clusters and bright, acidic fruit. Comparisons to riesling are apt.

Located a short road trip away in Pentwater, Michigan is the Jomagrha Vineyards and Winery. At Jomagrha they make a tasty cayuga blended with a hint of raspberry, called a "cayras" ("ki-rah" in French; "kay-rass" in Midwestern). This wine teems with a bright floral nose and good acidity, while the addition of raspberry gives it a long, tart finish. This is perfect as a picnic wine or just to beat the heat and worth a trip to Michigan. At $8.49 a bottle, it's also a steal.

Our ultimate assessment of this wine is that it's proof you don't have to travel to Napa or Europe to enjoy some quality wine. With gas prices as high as they are, this would be a perfect season for some one-tank trips. Jomagrha, located near Michigan's scenic Bass Lake, is a wonderful winery.