Southern Oregon Tempranillo
Meet Tempranillo- The bigger, bolder Oregon Wine.
When you hear Oregon wine, most think of Willamette Valley Pinot noir. Now there is another varietal gaining in popularity and putting a spotlight on Southern Oregon- Tempranillo.
Tempranillo is the most popular red varietal in Spain. If you have ever tried wine from Rioja, Ribera del Duero, or Toro regions of Spain you were probably drinking a Tempranillo. Tempranillo from the Spanish word Temprano, meaning early, ripens earlier than other Spanish varietals. Known for their bold flavors of cherry, fig, cedar, and tobacco and the appealing tannins Southern Oregon Tempranillo is a change from the lighter-bodied Willamette Valley Pinot noir up north.
Earl Jones pioneered Tempranillo in Southern Oregon when he first planted his vines in 1995. After much research, he discovered that Oregon, or more specifically the Umpqua Valley, Rogue Valley, and Applegate Valley were the best place to grow Tempranillo in the United States. Tempranillo grows best in areas where late spring and early fall frosts are unlikely, and areas with shorter but warmer, drier, growing seasons. Unlike the Willamette Valley where the average yearly rainfall can be 60 inches, Southern Oregon sees significantly less with an average of around 18 inches. Southern Oregon also has on average 195 days of sun whereas the Willamette Valley averages 120 days.
Southern Oregon Tempranillo landed on the map in 2001 when Earl Jone's won double-gold and "best in class" in the 2001 San Francisco International Wine Competition. Since then Tempranillo has become one of the signature grape varietals planted in the area.
At The Urban Cork, located in downtown Medford, Linda Donovan serves over a dozen different Tempranillo wines. From her low-intervention L. Donovan brand to Tempranillo rosés, and even several Tempranillo blancos.
Explore Southern Oregon Tempranillo and the many other diverse wines Umpqua Valley, Rogue Valley, and the Applegate Valley have to offer by visiting our online store.