Belledor Vineyards Tempranillo Shenandoah Valley 2022

Oh Tempranillo, you temptress! Stoking our thirst like a flamenco dancer’s curling fingers, and snatching your crown as the ultimate barbecue drink. This strawberry-kissed 2022 expression from California’s gold country is an utterly insane deal, right here and right now. 

Spain's most popular grape, one of the most-planted wines in the world, even getting a solid toehold in Texas ag… but accounting for a measly 0.2% of California’s wine vines? Crazy. But we don’t dwell on the unfun economic rationale… we just snap up bottles like this when we come across them: so easy to drink, so ready for any weather – including the aforementioned BBQ and grilling situations. This unbelievably affordable iteration comes from Belledor Vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley, which is amidst the old Gold Rush towns in the Sierra foothills of Amador County.

Hot days and cold nights at 1,500 feet do exactly what you’d hope: deeply ripen the fruit while keeping it lithe and lively. The nose is a melding of strawberry, vanilla, violet, and something rustic like dry hay. Then the silky palate – medium bodied – pulls us into this fabulous back-and-forth between black plum, chocolate-covered graham cracker, and toasty oak – and red plum and frisky red cherry. Deep and dusky playing off bright and buoyant, the very spirit of summer. Easygoing, essentially a grown up cherry Tootsie Pop, with the tiniest dab of sweetness integrating with lifted acid. The finish is dry and dignified, with the volcanic soil coming through to cut into your plate of charred, smokey, fatty, saucy meats. 

And by the way, you red wine devotees who refuse to stick to white wine during the warm months: just pop this in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes and treat yourself to a little chill without sacrificing flavor.