The red grape variety is a new cross between Olmo F2-7 (Mazuelo x Cabernet Sauvignon) x Merlot (it must not be confused with the German new cross Carmina ). The cross was made in 1946 in the USA by Dr. Harold P. Olmo (1909-2006) at the California Agricultural Experiment Station. The mother variety was already created in 1936 during the development of the Ruby Cabernet variety. The breeding goal was a special variety for the relatively hot and dry Californian conditions in the Central Valley. It was released for cultivation in 1976 and introduced to the market. The late-maturing, high-yielding vine is grown primarily in California, as well as Colorado, Kentucky, Oregon and Pennsylvania. However, no stocks were reported in 2016 (Kym Anderson statistics).
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