I stumbled across the Rubus 2016 Proprietary Reserve Red (Spain) while touring the more than 120 tents of wines and spirits at the Fort Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival. I knew nothing about the wine, but I knew the story of how it came to be.

Bumper grape crops in the first decade of the 21st century resulted in wineries choosing between dumping excellent juice or selling it to bottlers who produced ‘boutique’ wines often available only for a single vintage.   In 2009, 90+ Wines took that concept and created a very successful brand. The 90+ people looked for excess juice from respected producers, bought it, bottled it, and sold it under their label at prices lower than the bottlings of the same juice with the more prestigious label. The sales approach was simple…if you like it, buy plenty, it is unlikely you will see it again.

Rubus has followed the same model. It “offers consumers a pleasurable drink at a pleasurable price”. They look for wines at, “incredible quality/price ratio”. The first Rubus was a 1997 Amador County Zinfandel. Only 1200 cases were produced, and it sold in just a few days. The Rubus label did not reappear until 2009 with a Russian River Chardonnay and a Stag’s Leap Cabernet. Since then the Virginia based operation has sourced grapes from New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, and France as well as Australia and the U.S. They have produced Mendoza Malbec and Waipara Valley (NZ) Sauvignon Blanc. Spain is a new venture and you can look for Rioja to join the Proprietary Red Blend.

The first Proprietary Reserve Red was sourced from Australian grapes. This version originates in Spain (90% Garnacha and 10% Syrah) from largely older vines grown largely at a higher altitude. They age some of the juice in French oak and they sell it at a very competitive price. Wine World sells it for $12 ($20 for 2)…a great price for this wine.

The Rubus representative and I agreed that this is the ideal ‘pizza wine’. A touch of sweetness from the Garnacha would work wonderfully with the spice of a pizza, and the 14.5% ABV offers a structure that would hold up against the hardy cheeses and meats.

Kysela wines are distributed throughout the US. Total Wines in Charleston offers a few options (although not the Proprietary Red). And, of course you can find Rubus (three options at Chan’s Wine World).

Remember, if you taste it and you like it, buy more. You may never see it again.