Yes, they keep on coming!

Today, it’s International Tempranillo Day. And what better way to celebrate than with a glass of ours?!

But as you know our Picnic Races Red (as it is affectionately known) is no longer made from just Tempranillo. 

Before we talk about that though, let’s find out more about the variety of the moment…

 

What is Tempranillo and how do I pronounce it?

Tempranillo is the dominant variety found in a wine region of northern Spain called Rioja. Given its Spanish origins, where a double “l” is pronounced as a “y” sound, the correct pronunciation is Tem-pra-nee-yo (but we’ll forgive you if you order a tem-pra-nill-o!). The name comes from the Spanish word, temprana. It means early, referring to the fact that it’s an early-ripening red variety.

In the vineyard

The vines are particularly suited to relatively high altitudes, but can also tolerate a much warmer climate. Tempranillo vines can grow quite vigorously. Therefore, vineyard managers needs to carefully manage the crop to avoid over-cropping and excessive vegetative growth.

The highly serrated nature of its leaves makes it one of the most recognisable varieties in the vineyard. It is one of the few varieties where the leaves turn bright red in autumn. It’s one of the most beautiful sights!

Tempranillo in Australia

Tempranillo has only been planted here since around 1994 with two of the first producers being Brown Brothers in North East Victoria and Yalumba in the Barossa. Since then, Tempranillo has been planted in many regions across the country, all with relative success. It was first planted in the Adelaide Hills around 14 years ago.

Interesting facts

Tempranillo is…

• OLD. The general theory is that Tempranillo was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) by the Phoenicians over 3,000 years ago!
• one of the top varieties blended into port wine from Portugal.
• is the fourth-most planted variety in the world.
• is considered one of the nine red noble grapes.

The noble grapes are 18 varieties of red and white wine grapes that define the complete range of wine flavours. They are most recognizable for the top-quality wine they produce and are said to retain their character no matter where they are planted.

The 9 red noble grapes from lightest to darkest are:

Pinot Noir, Grenache, Merlot, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Malbec.

 

What does it taste like?

Tempranillo grapes produce dark wines with aromatic fruity characters. The tannins are soft and sweet and become very smooth in the barrel. They are typically medium bodied with a weight similar to Cabernet Sauvignon or Sangiovese.

Tempranillo is characterised by flavours of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, vanilla and clove.

 

What does OURS taste like?

SOMERLED 2020 TEMPRANILLO-GRACIANO

The 2019/2020 growing season was incredibly testing, especially in the Adelaide Hills. 

Fortunately, Kim Anderson was able to save his great little patch of Tempranillo and Graciano from the fires that ravaged the rest of his vineyard. And this is the result.

The grapes were very nicely ripe when hand-picked in late March, with fine colour and plenty of soft tannins. Fermentation was in a small open fermenter for just under 10 days. The wine went into mature French oak barrels, went through malolactic fermentation and then stayed in barrel for just over 2 years.

The aromas are full and growing all the time, with typical spicey Tempranillo notes, some gentle oak and a hint of fragrance from the tiny bit of Graciano (about 5 % of the blend). The palate is full and ripe, with berry flavours complementing the spice and oak. It has soft ripe tannins adding to the length of the palate.

It will develop beautifully with time in bottle, maybe peaking in 3 or 4 years from now. 

It’s a great match for chicken or duck and also lamb and lighter beef dishes.

 

So, what is this “Graciano” you speak of? I’m glad you asked. Let’s find out more…

Graciano

Graciano is a black-skinned variety from Northern Spain. It is mostly grown in the Navarra and Rioja wine regions (those green bits on the right-hand side of the map).

It’s not commonly grown in other parts of the world, although small quantities can be found in California and here in Australia. It is also grown in France under the name Morrastel.

The classic Spanish Graciano wine is moderately tannic, deeply coloured and intensely perfumed. It has aromas of mulberry, violets and chocolate. 

Graciano’s intense flavours and aromas make it perfect for blending. In Rioja it is very popular with winemakers who use it to make the classic Rioja blend with Tempranillo and Grenache. Even when it is used in only small volumes, it has a definite influence over the finished product.

Unfortunately, Graciano can be a bit of a pain to grow. The vines are very low-yielding, which is probably the biggest reason growers chose not to plant more of them. They are also particularly susceptible to rot and downy mildew. In the 20th Century, many Rioja wineries uprooted their Graciano vines in favour of more fashionable grapes such as Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Happily, though, the variety is regaining popularity.

We’ve been growing Graciano in Australia for 100 years. Brown Brothers planted vines in the King Valley (Victoria) in the 1920s. While we still don’t grow a lot of Graciano, it can be found all over South Australia and in Margaret River in Western Australia.

 

I’m going to celebrate tonight with my all time favourite food and wine combo… Picnic Races Red and pizza!

What will you have with yours?