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Red Wines
Rubired (ruh-bi-red) is a relatively new variety from H.P. Olmo, released in 1958. It is a cross of Tinta Cao, a port variety, and Alicante Ganzin, which has an Aramon × Rupestris rootstock as one parent. This means Rubired has one-eighth of the wild American species Vitis rupestris in its make-up. This has some advantages, such as a degree of resistance to fungus diseases, but also leads to some problems, such as dense foliage and numerous light bunches. Plantings in California reached 5300 ha by 1974, declined to 2773 ha by 1992 then increased to 5345 ha. A few fairly substantial plantings were made in Australia around 1970 but they have been largely grafted over or removed. A related variety, Royalty, a cross of Bastardo and Alicante Ganzin, was released by Dr Olmo at the same time as Rubired. It is reported to be more demanding as to soil type, less vigorous and lower-yielding. Originally planted in California to about the same extent as Rubired, Royalty did not expand to the same degree, reaching only 1200 ha by 1974 then declining to its current level of 222 ha.
