by Fred McMillin
for February 4, 1999

Meet Monsieur Omo

Prologue

Founder Charles B. Mitchell: "Our $8 Monsieur Omo's Red Sunshine is a new blend of our light-bodied red table wine, made to drink now. Previous bottlings have won a Silver and a Gold".

The Rest of the Story

My panel was very happy to meet Monsieur Omo. They voted it Best Buy in our last tasting.

 
What's in the blend? I wouldn't dare to guess. Some pretty exotic juices emerge from Charles' 107-acre El Dorado ranch...labels show words like Tinta Madera, Aleatico, etc. Our Dec. 5, 1997 WineDay pointed out that at the time Mitchell current releases totaled twenty two different wines. So damn the varietals, full speed ahead!

The Wine

Monsieur Omo's Red Sunshine, California
Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards, El Dorado County, CA.
Rating—Recommended in its price range
Food Affinities—This one is for a ham sandwich, a macaroni-and-cheese frozen dinner, char-broiled salmon...it's for drinking, not thinking.
Contact—(530)620-3467
Price—$8 range

Postscript

About that word "Omo": It originally was the name of an American Indian village in the El Dorado area. Some 40 years after the Gold Rush exploded on the scene, the name appeared in print...as the Omo Ranch and the Omo post office.

About the Writer Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. He currently teaches wine courses at San Francisco State and San Francisco City College. In 1995, the Academy of Wine Communications honored Fred with one of only 22 Certificates of Commendation awarded to American wine writers.

Copyright © 1999—the electronic Gourmet Guide, Inc. All rights reserved.