Category: Tempranillo

Red sangria (image by Ruth Archer from Pixabay)

Let’s Celebrate Summer with Sangria, Drink Recipes Included

 mywinepal  July 21, 2023

History of Sangria Sangria traces its roots back to Spain where it has become an iconic part of Spanish culture. The word “sangria” is derived from the Spanish word “sangre,” meaning blood, which refers to the drink’s deep red colour. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times when the Romans would mix wine with water, fruits, and spices…

Jose Luis Muguiro Jr

Jose Luis Muguiro Jr from Marques de Riscal at VanWineFest 2023

 mywinepal  June 25, 2023

My only video interview of a winery not in South America at VanWineFest 2023 comes from José Luis Muguiro Jr from Marqués de Riscal in Spain.  Earlier in the VanWineFest week I had a winery dinner with him at Homer St Cafe and it was one of the best and most memorable dinners I have ever had at VanWineFest. Marqués…

CVNE Cune Reserva 2017 and CVNE Cune Gran Reserva 2015

Two CVNE Cune Rioja Wines With a Light Touch

 mywinepal  May 17, 2023

When you think of Spain and Rioja you probably think of a hot climate and big red wines.  Today I opened two wines from CVNE, their Cune Reserva 2017 and Cune Gran Reserva 2015, and they both have a light touch upon first opening.  There was some change with time exposed to air, but what was even a bigger factor…

A Dinner with Marqués de Riscal at Homer St Cafe

A Dinner with Marqués de Riscal at Homer St Cafe for VanWineFest 2023

 mywinepal  May 8, 2023

One of the world’s best vineyards, Marqués de Riscal lives by wine and lives for wine. I joined Brand Ambassador José Luis Maguro Jr. at this perfectly paired dinner dedicated to the shared love of wine. The evening began with canapés, followed by a four-course dinner exquisitely prepared by the team at Homer St. Cafe and Bar. Let me get…

CUNE Monopole White 2020 and CUNE Crianza 2018

A CVNE CUNE Monopole Blanco Seco and CUNE Crianza Red from Rioja

 mywinepal  April 18, 2023

Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (the Northern Spanish Wine Company) CVNE was founded in 1879 in the town of Haro in Rioja, Spain by two brothers. I opened two bottles of wine I received.  The first was CUNE Monopole White 2020 made from the Viura grape in Rioja; also known as Macabeo in other parts of Spain. This was the first…

Taste of Italy poster

A Taste of Italy Visits Vancouver

 mywinepal  March 9, 2023

Last week there was the Taste of Italy celebration held at the Vancouver Lookout downtown.  Wine and Italian cheese, prosciutto, chocolates, and more were there to sample. Here are ten wines that I quite enjoyed at the Taste of Italy.  Some of these wines are currently available in BC.  I marked those wines with a “*”.  The wines without the…

TERRE lab Winemakers Series Tempranillo Rosé 2021 and Tempranillo 2018

Tasting Two TERRE lab Winemakers Series Wines

 mywinepal  August 28, 2022

Winemakers, besides making the wines their wineries are known for, also like to take on smaller projects. Testing out new methods or grape varieties. TERRE lab Winemakers Series wines are where Gold Hill Winery’s Val Tait gets to have some fun. These wines are made in very small lots (e.g. 70-80 cases or less). Bottled under the label TerreLab, they…

Christian showing stainless steel tanks with glycol jackets

A Winery Walk & Talk with Christian Scagnetti at Moon Curser Vineyards

 mywinepal  October 22, 2021

Grape harvest time is special.  There is the beauty of the ripe grapes and the leaves of the vines starting to change colours and the sights, sounds and smells of the grapes as they are sorted, crushed, and pumped to vat or barrel.  And the anticipation of making great wine from the grapes that the winery spent countless months and…

CVNE Vina Real Rioja Crianza 2017 and Cune Rioja Reserva 2015

2 CVNE Rioja Wines Ready to Enjoy – No Cellaring Needed

 mywinepal  April 12, 2021

Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (the Northern Spanish Wine Company) CVNE was founded in 1879 in the town of Haro in Rioja, Spain by 2 brothers.  Did you know that CVNE also has the name Cune, made by accident?  It was a print shop error back in the days when the typesetter thought the V looked odd and replaced it with…

Run Rafa Run Airén and Tempranillo 2018

A Quick Review: Run Rafa Run Arién and Tempranillo from Spain

 mywinepal  August 18, 2020

Today I’m reviewing the value wine category with the Run Rafa Run wines from Spain.  Both of these wines are under $12 a bottle in BC.  The label is playful with a bull chasing a man with a red scarf, Rafa, during the Running of the Bulls.  I’m not sure that these wines will give you the machismo to do…