Celebrate International Tempranillo Day

In 2011, a wine group, called TAPAS, decided that every year, the second Thursday of November would be designated as International Tempranillo Day. TAPAS is short for Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society. The word “tapas” also refers to small plates of food served in Spain. Where do you think Tempranillo is numero uno? Yes! Spain.

With over 500,000 acres, it’s the fourth most-planted wine grape in the world. Depending on where it’s grown it’s called Cencibel, Tinta Roriz, Rioja, Valdepenas or Ribera del Douro. Here, it’s called “temp-rah-NEE-oh” and it seems to be catching on as California nudges close to 1,000 planted acres.

Thirteen Lodi wineries are celebrating International Tempranillo Day this weekend from Friday, Nov. 10 to Sunday, Nov. 12. You can visit any one of the participating wineries, collect a complimentary guidebook and begin your Lodi Tempranillo Tour. The following wineries are participating in the three day event; Bokisch Vineyards, Dancing Coyote Wines, Durst Winery, Estate Crush, Fields Family Wines,Heritage Oak Winery, m2 Wines, McCay Cellars, McConnell Estate Winery, Riaza Wines, St. Amant Winery and Toasted Toad Cellars. This sounds like a fun event and if you haven’t visited Lodi Wine Country, this would be a great time to go. You’ll see why the Wine Enthusiast magazine named Lodi the 2015 Wine Region of the Year. For more information go to www.lodiwine.com.

Dust Bowl Brewing Company

The 2017 Great American Beer Festival competition awarded the Dust Bowl Brewing Company a gold medal for its Public Enemy Baltic Porter. The festival is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States. The GABF winners were selected by an international panel of 276 judges from 7,923 entries received from 2,217 U.S. breweries. Look for Baltic Porter’s specialty release in December. Public tours of the brewery are available on weekends, 11:15 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. The price is $15 for adults which includes two 8-ounce beer tokens and $11 for guests 16-20 years of age or for those not wishing beer tokens. For more information go to their website.

What’s On Our Table

A few columns ago I mentioned that the 2015 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi was the best of class medal winner in the Sunset International Wine Competition. Judges said “despite its name, this zin is texturally smooth, with sweet dark-berry, cherry and blueberry pie flavors and a hint of smoke.” The SRP is $12. I bought all I could at Safeway for $7.99. This smooth fruit-forward zinfandel would be perfect for Turkey Day. Cheers!

This story was originally published November 7, 2017 at 11:29 AM with the headline "Celebrate International Tempranillo Day."