It’s mid-March, which means things are heating up around Texas. As you’re looking for that perfect summer red to enjoy we’ve got a fairly new Texas wine to share with you. This month’s Texas Wine of the Month comes at the suggestion of Scott Ota, a certified sommelier who runs the wine program at the Grill at the historic Driskill Hotel in Austin who says he selected this wine particularly for its fun, easy drinkability.

Texas Wine of the Month: Tranquilo Vino Red Blend 2010.

This red wine is a Tempranillo blend, which should come as no surprise considering the success Tempranillo has had for many winemakers in the past few years. But in addition to the full bodied plum and tobacco notes we’ve come to expect from Tempranillo, this wine has a little more complexity from a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and a few other minor grapes commonly found in the Rhone Valley. And while these are all well known Spanish and Southern French grape varieties, the great news is, that all of the grapes for this wine of the month are grown in the High Plains by notable Texas grape grower Andy Timmons.

“This wine has a very fresh, skin-driven quality in its red fruits—cherry skins and strawberry flesh. Dusty earth tones give it a sense of place, and the dried rose petal, potpourri perfumes give the wine a gentle elegance.”

And while Ota is a fan of the Tranquilo for its approachability on the palate, he’s also a fan of its price point: $15.

“Most of my conflicts with Texas wine come from a value perspective,” says Ota. “I find that many Texas wines are delicious, however, their pricing is too high in comparison to other examples of the same varieties from around the world. Tranquilo is priced right, and it delivers a delicious glass of Texas juice.”

At a value price like this, Tranquilo Red Blend is an ideal wine to bring along for an outdoor barbecue for burgers or ribs from the grill. It would also be beautiful with pork tenderloin served with a peppery arugula salad and some couscous with toasted pine nuts. But for a special meal, Ota who suggests enjoying Tranquilo Red Blend with a plate of crispy pork belly, shaved brussel sprouts, and a truffled potato puree in a red wine reduction.

“Although the Texas heat gives the fruit plenty of ripeness, the fruit has a wonderful strawberry tartness and a dry finish. The alcohol is balanced at 13.5%, and the wine has medium body. Despite the ripe fruit, the wine has solid acidity, making it very food-friendly,” says Ota.

Tranquilo also has a sister white wine blend made from Rhone Valley white grapes including Viognier and Roussanne that also retails for about $15. As a white counterpart, it’s every bit as elegant as the Red Blend.

Though relatively new, you can find this wine in most major Texas markets including certain Whole Foods and Central Markets as well as The Whip In Corner Shop in Austin, Vino 100 in McKinney, Houston Wine Merchant and In Vino Veritas in San Angelo.

Wine: Tranquilo Red Blend 2010

Retail Price: ~$15

Availability: Whole Foods (Dallas and Austin), Central Market Austin, The Whip In Corner Shop in Austin, Vino 100 in McKinney, Houston Wine Merchant and In Vino Veritas in San Angelo

- Jessica Dupuy