Tempranillos rising in popularity across Northwest

As far as history goes, the Pacific Northwest has little in the way of growing Tempranillo, the noble red grape of Spain’s Rioja region. But our region’s grape growers and winemakers are quick learners.

The Northwest’s first Tempranillo grapes went into the soil in 1993, when Red Willow Vineyard’s Mike Sauer planted a few test vines in Washington’s Yakima Valley. Just a couple of years later, Earl and Hilda Jones of Abacela began planting Tempranillo in earnest in Southern Oregon’s warm Umpqua Valley.

In the two decades since, Tempranillo has established itself as a favorite with growers, winemakers and consumers alike. We recently conducted a Tempranillo judging on behalf of Wine Press Northwest magazine and expected perhaps 40 examples of the wine to show up from Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Instead, we drew 72.

Most of the production of Northwest Tempranillo is in small amounts. In fact, the average case production of the wines tasted was below 250. This means most of the wines are sold directly to consumers through the wineries’ tasting rooms or wine clubs, while a small amount likely is making it to wine shops.

Here are a few of the top wines from our comprehensive Tempranillo judging. Ask for them at your favorite wine merchant or contact the wineries directly. And find the complete results in the latest issue of Wine Press Northwest or at www.winepressnw.com.

Eight Bells Winery 2013 Red Willow Vineyard Tempranillo, Yakima Valley, $32: The oldest Tempranillo in the Pacific Northwest is grown at famed Red Willow Vineyard in the western Yakima Valley, and the owners of this small producer in Seattle have crafted a superb example that opens with aromas of ripe strawberry and oak undertones, followed by rich flavor of plump red and dark fruit, backed with hints of plum and chocolate. (14.8 percent)

Rio Vista Winery 2012 Tempranillo, Lake Chelan, $32: Owner/winemaker John Little is north of the Lake Chelan cutoff between Highway 97 and the Columbia River. This provides aromas of dark-toned fruit, toasted oak and a sprinkling of cocoa powder. It’s a rich, full and beautifully balanced red. (14.3 percent)

Upland Estates 2010 Tempranillo, Snipes Mountain, $28: Grower Todd Newhouse and winemaker Robert Smasne combine to craft one of the Northwest’s best Tempranillos. This opens with aromas of black cherry, blackberry and spice, followed by bold flavors of rich, balanced dark fruit backed by richly structured tannins. (13.8 percent)

College Cellars 2014 Anderson Vineyard Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley, $22: Tim Donahue and his Walla Walla Community College students crafted this fresh, young wine with aromas of rose petals, cocoa powder, plum and dark cherry flavors of ripe raspberry and blueberry, all backed by supple tannins and rich acidity. (13.8 percent)

Maryhill Winery 2012 Painted Hills Vineyard Tempranillo, Columbia Valley, $24: Winemaker Richard Batchelor continues his remarkable ability to craft superb wines. This new addition to his lineup provides aromas and flavors of fruit leather, raspberry, strawberry and blueberry, all backed by firm tannins and a lengthy finish. (14.6 percent)

Burnt Bridge Cellars 2012 Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley, $35: Based in Vancouver, Burnt Bridge is a young winery with a bright future. This opens with dark-toned aromas of huckleberry, black pepper and moist earth, followed by rich, dark, delicious flavors of blueberry, Saskatoon berry, vanilla and pipe tobacco. (14.6 percent)

Sawtooth Winery 2012 Classic Fly Series Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $25: Meredith Smith is crafting extraordinary wines, and this Tempranillo shows what the future of the Snake River Valley could be with Spanish varieties. This opens with aromas of vanilla, chocolate and ripe red fruit, followed by bold flavors of cherry and huckleberry. (13.5 percent)

Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue run Great Northwest Wine, a news and information company. Listen to their weekly podcast on iTunes or at www.greatnorthwestwine.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

The Moonlight Swing Orchestra will play classic sounds of the Big Band Era on April 21 in Everett. (submitted photo)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Relive the Big Band Era at the Port Gardner Music Society’s final concert of the season in Everett.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD (Honda)
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD

Honda cedes big boy pickup trucks to the likes of Ford, Dodge… Continue reading

Would you want to give something as elaborate as this a name as mundane as “bread box”? A French Provincial piece practically demands the French name panetiere.
A panetiere isn’t your modern bread box. It’s a treasure of French culture

This elaborately carved French antique may be old, but it’s still capable of keeping its leavened contents perfectly fresh.

(Judy Newton / Great Plant Picks)
Great Plant Pick: Mouse plant

What: Arisarum proboscideum, also known as mouse plant, is an herbaceous woodland… Continue reading

Bright green Japanese maple leaves are illuminated by spring sunlight. (Getty Images)
Confessions of a ‘plantophile’: I’m a bit of a junky for Japanese maples

In fact, my addiction to these glorious, all-season specimens seems to be contagious. Fortunately, there’s no known cure.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Hyundai)
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited is a sporty, all-electric, all-wheel drive sedan that will quickly win your heart.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T hybrid’s face has the twin red lines signifying the brand’s focus on performance. (Dodge)
2024 Hornet R/T is first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge

The all-new compact SUV travels 32 miles on pure electric power, and up to 360 miles in hybrid mode.

Don’t blow a bundle on glass supposedly made by the Henry William Stiegel

Why? Faked signatures, reused molds and imitated styles can make it unclear who actually made any given piece of glass.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.