Jamul Indian Village serves unique brand of wine at casino

Monday, December 2, 2019  

Diners at the casino owned by the Jamul Indian Village can enjoy a unique brand of wine with their meals.

The "23" wine at Jamul Casino is a red varietal from grapes grown on the nearby Rincon Reservation in southern California, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The vineyard happens to be owned by the family of Michael Hunter, the vice chairman at Jamul.

“We’re branding ourselves as the local casino, so (it’s) great to have a wine that we can offer guests and say, ‘We made this especially for you. It’s local and family-owned,’” Hunter told The Union-Tribune.

The wine, served at the Prime Cut steak and seafood restaurant, is connected to the tribe's culture, The Union-Tribune points out. The "23" comes from the 23 tribal citizens who secured federal recognition for their people.

"On May 9, 1981, a small group of Native Americans, whose families had lived in the area for countless generations, took a major step toward ensuring the prosperity of future generations by obtaining federal tribal recognition and establishing the Jamul Indian Village," a post on social media reads. "This wine, created exclusively from grapes grown at the tribal member owned Hunter & Mazzetti Vineyards, celebrates those original twenty-three members and stands as a testament to the transformation power of place, time, and close knit community. "

The brand is economically priced as well. At $10 a glass, or $40 a bottle, it's one of the least expensive options on the Prime Cut menu.

The tribe debuted the Jamul Casino three years ago in September. The property is billed as the closest Indian gaming facility to San Diego.

Farm to casino: Jamul steakhouse’s house wine is grown on tribal vice chairman’s family vineyard (The San Diego Union-Tribune December 1, 2019)