The origin of the name Mama Juana (or mamajuana) comes from the English word Demijohn, which refers to a large squat bottle with a short narrow neck, usually covered in wicker. It is thought to be derived from the French Dame Jeanne (Lady Jane), a term which is also still used to describe this bottle. In the Spanish-speaking countries, Dame Jeanne was transformed into Dama Juana and later, into Mama Juana (Mother Jane). Mamajuana.

Mamajuana today is better known as a “spiced rum” from the Dominican Republic. There are many recipes but basically it is a concoction of dark rum, red wine, and honey aged with tree bark and specific herbs. Originally theses ingredients were soaked in that little stubby bottle (the Mama Juana).

The resulting color is deep red and the taste is very close to that of port wine. In many countries where it is legal to make powerful claims about alcohol beverages it is advertised as an aphrodisiac.

Many native Dominicans claim it has similar effects to Viagra. Women have also claimed that it enhances sexual desire… WOW…but legally we can’t make any of these claims here in the US! That might be a good thing… don’t we already have enough of those irritating ads running all the time?

So, for all you herbalists out there… Basically, Mama Juana is a combination of tree bark and herbs left to soak (age) in rum… mostly dark rum is used but white rum is used quite often too. Then honey is added and of course red wine. The local leaves, sticks and roots used vary from region to region but here is a list of the most frequently used:

Anamu (Petiveri alliacea),   Anis Estrellado (Illicium verum)

Bohuco Pega Palo (Cissus verticillata),   Albahaca (Ocimim basilicum)

Canelia (Cinnamodendron ekmanii),   Bojucco Caro (Princess Vine)

Marabeli (Securidaca virgata),   Clavo Dulce (Whole clove)

Maguey (Agave spp.) leaves,   Timacle (Chiococca alba)

Precise recipes for mixing these ingredients vary greatly and following the recipes is said to be quite an art. Not to worry… there is an authentic version of Mama Juana available in the US right now. HISPANIOLA MAMAJUANA, 60 proof from The Dominican Republic. This original Dominican herbal rum liqueur with mythical power is the true taste of Dominican lifestyle. It can be shipped to all 50 States.

Click here for more information.

The “Captain” suggests that drinking his spiced rum makes you pose your leg in a certain peculiar way… Hispaniola Mamajuana vaguely suggests that drinking its Mamajuana will make any extremity-of-your-choice pose in any way you want. Now which would you rather want to do??? Please pose responsibly.

Like many of you around the US, I was enjoying a great Thanksgiving Day. I was immersed in family and friends, great food and drinks.  I was enjoying a delicious Principessa Gavia di Gavi with my turkey… when someone wanted me to try a Shiraz they had brought to the festivities.  I love red wine but am sort of over Shiraz and disappointed in the deteriorating quality of the Australian Shiraz.

They brought it to me in a glass; I didn’t see the bottle so I presumed it was Australian.  It was surprisingly good… I felt bad that I had such disparaging thoughts about the quality of Australian Shiraz. 

When I asked for a refill of my glass I saw that the label looked like nothing I had ever seen from Australia… when they handed me the bottle I was SURPRISED to see it was from ARKANSAS.

Our friend’s mother who lives in Arkansas brought a mixed case of Arkansas wine to the festivities. The next I eagerly tried was the Cabernet Sauvignon… again excellent… very nice nose and finish… a little on the light side but very delicious.  This was after I knew it was from Arkansas… it was still good even though I had to suppress my slight doubt that Arkansas could produce such good quality wine… I by no means consider myself a wine snob but realized how much we all have been indoctrinated by the big wine states in the US… mainly that they are the alpha-omega of the American Wine Industry.

I followed this with a tasting of their Merlot… again a magnificent wine.

So what was this fantastic wine that happens to come from Arkansas?   The Brand is Wiederkehr.  Here is an excerpt from their web-site:  http://www.wiederkehrwines.com/index.html

Our Family
In 1880, Johann Andreas Wiederkehr and his family emigrated from Switzerland to Altus, Arkansas (Altus comes from the Latin word for “high”). He chose St. Mary’s Mountain, near Altus, as the location of his home in the New World because the area’s mountains, valleys, and ridges had many different microclimates, some resembling the grape-growing climates in Europe’s finest wine regions. Here in the beautiful Ozark Mountains high above the Arkansas River valley, the very shape of the countryside, the soil, and the climate closely matched that which for centuries had nurtured some of Europe’s great wines.

In his new homeland, one of Johann’s first tasks was to carve a large wine cellar from a hillside. The cellar still exists, and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Johann’s wine cellar was converted into the Weinkeller Restaurant, serving authentic Swiss and European culinary delights to thousands of visitors at the Wiederkehr Village and Winery each year.

Johann’s first wines were produced from the grapes, blackberries, and persimmons that were native to the area. By planting the noblest grape varieties and producing fine wines, he helped to pioneer the American wine industry—Wiederkehr Wine Cellars is U.S. Bonded Winery Number 8. From these humble beginnings, the winery has remained a family operation with third and fourth generation members dedicated to producing only the finest wines available.

So they have been at this for a long time.  It is still family owned and growing.  I also tried their Chardonnay the next day… I am impressed.  I don’t know where it can be purchased outside of Arkansas. Look above…I included the link to their website, check them out.

We have a lot to be thankful for in the US…like nice wines from states other than the wine icon states.  We should all try to sample wines from all of our states… and we could be pleasantly surprised as I was this Thanksgiving Day.