Appellation Ramona Valley AVA | Founded 1996 | |
Location Alex Vanden Heuvel's house Varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Mourvedre, Zinfandel Website www.mahoganymountain.com | ||
Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery is a small, family owned and operated California winery specializing in limited production of handcrafted premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Mourvedre and Red Zinfandel. The vineyards are located in a high valley (1,500 feet (460 m) elevation) in Ramona, California surrounded by mountains. The microclimate in the region include hot long summer days and cool nights.
History
In 1996, wine making operations were started in Ramona using locally grown grapes. In 1997, vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre and Zinfandel varietals were planted. In October 2003 the Cedar Fire ravaged the area; the vineyards sustained minor damage. In the aftermath of the fire, extensive work was done in improving the vineyards and winery. In 2004, the vineyards were expanded to add Syrah. In late 2006, a 3,200 sq ft (300 m2) building was added for grape and wine processing and production.
In January 2006, Ramona Valley AVA was designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) for its microclimate, elevation and soil.
In November 2010, operations were expanded to include a tasting room on the premises. This expansion made Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery the first winery to open a tasting room in the Ramona Valley in the last 15 years.