Tempranillo
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2027
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled lamb chops, wood-fired pork sausages, roasted wild mushrooms
✨ Technical Specifications
Kerloo Cellars' Tempranillo represents a compelling exploration of how Spain's noble grape translates to the rugged, sun-drenched terroirs of Washington State. Winemaker Ryan Crane utilizes low-intervention techniques to craft a Tempranillo that balances the grape's traditional rustic charm with the vibrant, concentrated fruit profile characteristic of the Columbia Valley. Sourced primarily from high-elevation sites like the Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain—where ancient, stony soils and dramatic diurnal temperature shifts mimic the high plains of Spain—this wine is typically aged in neutral French oak to preserve its natural acidity and mineral tension. The result is an expressive red that honors old-world structure while showcasing the bold, pioneering spirit of Washington winemaking.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2007 by winemaker Ryan Crane in the renowned Walla Walla Valley of Washington State, Kerloo Cellars crafts artisanal, site-expressive wines that celebrate the Pacific Northwest's premier terroirs. Operating with a philosophy centered on minimal intervention, low oak influence, and native fermentations, Crane seeks to showcase the pure, vibrant fruit character of respected vineyard sites across Columbia Valley and Yakima Valley. The winery is particularly acclaimed for its dynamic Rhône-style offerings, notably single-vineyard Syrah and crisp Grenache Rosé, alongside energetic expressions of Tempranillo, Grenache Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Tempranillo