Whether they grow their own or buy grapes from other vineyards, wine businesses that produce wine that is not only drinkable but challenges your pallet, are worth checking out. On this occasion we visited the Four Sisters Ranch in San Miguel, CA for a wine tasting and were educated on a grape with which we were unfamiliar and is rarely mentioned here in the US – Tempranillo.
An Interesting Grape Varietal
According to winefolly.com, “Tempranillo is Spain’s number one red wine grape… In Portugal, it’s also known as Tinta Roriz and Aragonéz. Well-crafted Tempranillo wines age for two or more decades.”
Our fascination with this varietal started when we walked into the tasting room and met another RV travelling couple who were there for the tasting as well. They had lived in Chile and Spain, and loved Tempranillo wine. On the list of wines we would taste was the Tempranillo Limited Edition 2018.
It was full-bodied with deep, dark fruit notes, the grape’s signature leather flavors. Certainly worth it. We purchased a bottle, along with a few others that delighted our pallets.
As members of Harvest Hosts, we stayed in our RV parked near the vines. The next morning we awoke to a beautiful sunrise and walked through the vineyard with its sprawling acres of mature vines. If you are travelling through California, add this vineyard to your travels. It is certainly worth the trip. And try the Tempranillo!
By the way, have you ever seen a javelina? Early morning we encountered a couple small ones and a big one rummaging through the rows of vines. These pig-like animals create tremendous havoc for farms because they dig up everything. Share your story – tell us what you have encountered when visiting American farms and vineyards. There’s always something interesting.
