RAMONA is on a mission to democratise fine wine and give it a modern twist. To leave a trail of positive disruption wherever they go, surprising, delighting and improving our communities. It’s the first-of-its-generation, totally organic, vegan, gluten free, low alcohol, easy drinking, effervescent wine spritzer.
Obsessed with spritzes and inspired by wine coolers of the 1980s, sommelier and founder Jordan Salcito created RAMONA. RAMONA is named after Salcito’s littlest sister’s childhood alter ego and represents Salcito’s alter ego to her fine wine and high-end restaurant career. While working with Momofuku and Eleven Madison Park in New York, she noticed a void in the market for high quality, portable, wine-based beverages that consumers could drink in moments when glasses and bottle openers weren’t appropriate.
“The biggest difference between RAMONA and other canned alcoholic beverages is our value system,” Salcito says. “We produce – objectively delicious – wines and spritzes made from organically grown, sustainably sourced ingredients and work with partners who are similarly committed to transparency around an ethical supply chain.”
About the founder
Salcito is a five-time James Beard Award-nominee and the former Wine & Beverage Director for David Chang’s Momofuku restaurants, where her wine list at Ko was named “Most Creative in the World” by World of Fine Wine magazine in 2016. Before that, she worked as a sommelier and manager at Eleven Madison Park and as a prep cook at DANIEL. Fun fact: Jordan passed the Master Sommelier “Blind Tasting” exam on her first try!
Jordan has harvested experience at some of the world’s best wineries, including Domaines Dujac, Mugneret-Gibourg, Comte Liger-Belair in Burgundy, Bodega Chacra in Patagonia and others throughout Italy and the US.
Salcito first became interested in wine when she learned her grandfather used to make it in his basement. RAMONA took that DIY spirit and brought it to the masses. With RAMONA, Jordan created something she wished existed – a delicious beverage for casual moments made with organic ingredients and ridiculously high quality standards.
Wine spritz?
In Italy, the spritz is a regional take on the aperitif, where each village seems to have its favourite recipe. Not merely an ideal combination of bubbles and bitterness in a low-alcohol package, the spritz helps one appreciate both the evolution of Italian cocktail culture, and the importance of ritual and leisure to Italian life.
RAMONA is a spritz in spirit. An update of the Italian classic that begins with their expertise and first love: fine wine.
Another fun fact: RAMONA is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
