Tempranillo Grapes from Bingham Family Vineyards

Last night, I joined a few friends for a wine tasting through Gusto Tastings, an organization run by wine professionals in Austin, Houston and Dallas with the specific intent of making fine wines more approachable to consumers like you and me. They’ve only been around for about a year or so, but their monthly tastings and educational seminars have started to attract some attention—including my own.

For instance, on every first Wednesday of each month, Gusto hosts a Texas vs. The World tasting showcasing a head-to-head comparison of wines made in Texas (with Texas-grown fruit) against wines from other world-class growing areas based on a different grape varietal each month. Last night’s tasting was based on Tempranillo, which is fitting considering that today is Tempranillo Day!

No seriously, it really is. Today, is the second annual International Tempranillo Day, a celebration of the Tempranillo grape, which is indigenous to Spain and is planted in 500,000 acres of the world’s vineyards, making it the fourth most planted wine grape. Until recently, the grape’s entire acreage was almost all grown in Spain. But today, it’s found all over the world including Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, France, Portugal, Turkey, Canada, China, Thailand, and you guessed, it, Texas!

In fact, it’s gained such a reputation in Texas that it has fast become what many people are calling the red grape of Texas. (Though that title isn’t exactly ‘official.’)

Dan Gatlin, owner/winemaker for Inwood Estate Vineyards was one of the first to take a gamble on Tempranillo more than a decade ago. His hunch was that the limestone-rich soils and the varying warm-to-cool temperatures in the High Plains near Lubbock would be ideal for the Tempranillo grape—just as it is in the Rioja and Ribero del Duero regions of Spain. He asked High Plains grape grower Neal Newsom to plant a couple of acres. In 2007, he released his 2005 vintage of Tempranillo and found amazing success with consumer feedback.

It wasn’t long before other winemakers followed suit. Today, it’s one the most widely planted grapes in the state. And according to some the state’s top grape growers, including Cliff Bingham of Bingham Family Vineyards, “it’s one of the easiest grapes to grow.”

Fitting, that it should have its own day of celebration. And that Texans can proudly select from a few dozen well-made Tempranillos to enjoy.

Last night Gatlin was the Texas winemaker at the Gusto tasting to help lead us through more than a dozen Texas Tempranillo single variety wines and blends including a special vertical tasting of 5 of his Inwood Estate selections from 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2011. (Still dreaming about the 2005, which had a nose of BBQ smoke, root beer and baked blackberries and tasted every bit the same.)

Gusto Tasting Texas Vs World Tempranillo Tasting (photo courtesy Gusto Tastings)

Each of the wines displayed a wide variety of characteristics from powerfully fruity to light and slightly perfumed, but a few in particular maintained an authentic Old World, earthy quality that seemed more reminiscent of true Spanish Tempranillos—Inwood Estates Cornelius Tempranillo 2005 and Reserve 2008, Hilmy Cellars 2011, Llano Estacado Tempranillo Cellar Reserve 2010, and an early barrel sampling of Flat Creek Estate Tempranillo 2011.

To celebrate your own version of Tempranillo Day, stop by your closest wine merchant—one that sells Texas wine, of course—and see if you can pick up one (or three) to taste. You’ll be surprised by the varying styles, but I think you’ll also be impressed with how many of Texas winemakers are interpreting the versatility of this powerfully complex grape.

If you need a little guidance, here are a few of my Top Texas Tempranillo picks. (Sadly, some of them are only available at the winery and not at your local store, but they’re still worth a try if you can seek them out.)

Fall Creek Vineyards (Salt Lick Vineyards) Tempranillo 2010 ($30)

Hilmy Cellars Tempranillo 2010 ($30 – Sadly, this vintage is sold out, but the 2012 should be available mid-2013)

Inwood Estates Vineyards Cornelius Tempranillo 2009 ($40)

Llano Estacado Winery Cellar Reserve Tempranillo 2010 ($16)

McPherson Cellars La Herencia 2010 (Tempranillo blend) ($14)

Pedernales Cellars Tempranillo Reserve 2010 ($30)

Perissos Vineyards Tempranillo 2010 ($45)

*Duchman Family Winery Tempranillo 2011 (This wine won’t be available until Spring 2013, but after a recent barrel sample with Duchman winemaker Dave Reilly, I think this Tempranillo will be a top Texas contender as well)

And, if you’d like to join in on a Texas Tempranillo discussion, join Texas wine bloggers Russ Kane, Denise Clarke and Jeff Cope for a special Texas Wine Twitter Tasting next Tuesday, November 13 from 7-9 pm. They’ll be tasting from a wide selection of Texas Tempranillos, many of which are in the list above. Check here for more details.

 - Jessica Dupuy