Almost every year we at Claiborne & Churchill seek out an interesting new grape varietal, and have a go at creating a new and interesting wine. Some of you may remember our varietal Grenache from 2003, or the Malbec we did in 2007. Well, in 2008 it was Tempranillo.
The Tempranillo grape is best known as the major component of Spanish wines from the Rioja district, where it is often blended with a little Garnacha (Grenache) or other grapes. Riojas are hearty and comforting and food-friendly red wines that are drinkable early, yet in many cases quite ageworthy as well. This would be an accurate description of the Claiborne & Churchill 2008 Tempranillo. Like its Spanish counterpart, it also has a little Grenache in it, contributing to its soft and fruity
character.
When one thinks of food pairings for this food-friendly wine, the first thing to spring to mind would be Spanish tapas, small plates of spicy, flavorful and appetizing hors d’oeuvres to munch on before dinner (or as dinner). With this in mind we’ve contributed some ideas for your own tapas party later in this Newsletter. |
