is Raimondo but that was changed during her grandfather’s immigration to the United States. She decided to honor the original name and uses the traditional spelling.


Marty Raymondo produced wine for four decades, parceling it out to friends and family. His son Tony took over and shared his winemaking skills with Margie, who became an Arkansas wine manufacturer in 2008.


She sources the grapes from California and returns every harvest season to make the wine, then she ages, bottles and sells it in Arkansas.


“I was inspired by my Grandfather. I learned more from my uncle Tony. My grandfather had the passion down, but I am not sure he had the science down,” she said.


Grapes from the family vineyards are used in Raimondo’s Zinfandel and Sangiovese but the rest of the grapes are sourced from a variety of small vineyards in California.


While she has regulars from the community, many tourists from Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri visit, too.


At the winery, Raimondo sells three sparkling wines, including an almond sparkling wine which is one of her best sellers; four white wines and nine reds. It costs $8 to taste five wines, but the best deal is the $10 wine, balsamic vinegar and olive oil tasting. That experience takes about 45 minutes and consists of tastes of five wines, five balsamic vinegars — some so smooth you could drink them — and five extra virgin olive oils.


DEAN CURTIS FOR LIVING WELL


Raimondo Winery in Mountain Home offers tastings of wines and other products.


Flavors include blood orange olive oil, garlic, Meyer lemon, dark chocolate, espresso, jalapeno and more. Raimondo loves to introduce people to new products, flavors and combinations.


She believes wine and food bring people together.


“Food and wine have always been my passion. My motto is ‘Old World Tradition. New World Style.’ I embrace that way of life. It’s family. It’s community. Cooking slows life down a little bit which we don’t get enough of in America. Sitting down at a table is engagement. Food and wine nurtures that environment,” she said.


DEAN CURTIS FOR LIVING WELL An outdoor sitting area at Raimondo Winery in Mountain Home.


Living Well i August/November 2016 21


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