Celebrate International Tempranillo Day

Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society  (TAPAS) has announced Sept. 1, 2011, to be the first International Tempranillo Day, a celebration of the grape with all its regional synonyms. On this day, wine drinkers are encouraged to open a bottle, enjoy the fun and share their experiences online.

Tempranillo, indigenous to Spain and used in the great Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines, is planted in 500,000 acres of the world’s vineyards, making it the fourth most planted wine grape. Until recently, this noble grape’s entire acreage was almost all grown in Spain, but things have changed.  It is now grown in numerous countries, including the U.S., Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, France, Portugal, Turkey, Canada, China, Thailand, and more.

Earl and Hilda Jones of Abacela in the Umpqua Valley introduced Tempranillo in Oregon in 1995, when they planted the variety - among others - at Fault Line Vineyards. In 1997, Abacela made the first commercial Tempranillo wine in the Pacific Northwest. The Joneses have perfected the varietal and inspired other Southern Oregon growers to plant it.

Check www.tapasociety.org for regional events.