Wine Guy: Swirling through Spanish reds in honour of Tempranillo Day

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In case it’s not yet marked in your calendar, the second Thursday of November has been designated International Tempranillo Day. Yes, the months are running out of dates for wine day recognition. But the occasion did get me thinking. Tempranillo is the red grape most associated with Spanish wines. And Spanish reds tend to trend robust and gutsy. In other words, they’re great pairings for fall and winter. So why not take a quick tour around a few wine regions of Spain?

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Anciano N/V No. 3 Rioja, Spain

($11.99 on sale until Nov. 23, #415623)

In honour of the day, let’s start with Tempranillo and Rioja. While it’s true that Tempranillo is grown throughout Spain, La Rioja is the grape’s historical heartland. There’s a diversity of bottles from Rioja, from Joven to Gran Reserva, with prices ranging from quite reasonable to budget busting. Steering to the former is Anciano’s No. 3 Rioja. Featuring classic Tempranillo traits like black cherry, dusty earth, and tobacco, this medium-bodied Rioja is certainly easy to get into. It’s dry and a bit brooding before some freshness kicks in on a balanced finish. And currently at $12, it’s a great bargain.

Bottom line: B, Pair with pork roast or ratatouille. 

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Plano Alto 2019 Garnacha & Cariñena, Spain

($17.99, #350317)

More or less down the road from La Rioja, near the city of Zaragoza, you’ll find the Cariñena wine appellation. Interestingly, it’s both the name of a place and a grape. That said, Cariñena — the grape known as Carignan across the border in France — is not the most prominent grape in the region. That honour falls to another Spanish grape stalwart: Garnacha, also known as Grenache. Plano Alto features both cultivars in it’s toothsome red blend, which brings a plump entry and juicy style overall. It’s heady but lacks some structure before a gritty and lingering spicy conclusion. Try serving with Korean barbecue or pizza.

Bottom line: B, Redolent red.

Alvaro Palacios 2020 Pétalos Bierzo, Spain

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($37.99, #256784)

Heading northwest in Spain leads to another array of intriguing reds, often produced from lesser-known grapes. One example is Bierzo, a designated wine area in the western stretches of Léon Province where Mencía is the grape of note. It’s the star in Alvaro Palacio’s Pétalos bottling, where it makes up more than 90 per cent of the wine’s composition — there’s a smattering of other indigenous red grapes and a dollop of white grapes, all organic or biodynamic-grown. This is one heady yet elegant red, with complex aromas ranging from berry fruit to mineral and herbs kicking off a robust style that finishes bold but still manages to bring finesse.

Bottom line: A, Great gift bottle if holiday shopping.

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The Swirl: Naramata Bench Winterfest

Closer to home, it’s time to get into the season with the return of the Naramata Bench Winterfest. Taking place 3-7 p.m. on Nov. 22, and noon-7 p.m. on Nov. 23, the festival features exclusive tastings at member wineries, cideries, and distilleries against a backdrop of dazzling holiday lights and decorations. Special events, holiday shopping, and seasonal food bites round out the experience. For complete details and a list of Winterfest participants head to naramatabenchwinterfest.com/

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