Full liter of estate-bottled Tempranillo love
How about a smooth, rich Tempranillo that drinks like a dream and is super friendly to your budget? By the way, it’s also a full liter, and it’s an estate wine! We continue our love affair with Spanish wine with Arco Iris Tempranillo from the Toro region of Spain.
You’d expect a liter of Tempranillo at such a low price to be a wine made by folks in lab coats, working at a gigantic corporate winery. Nope, this wine is made with love by the farmers at Bodegas Fariñas, a family-owned estate where they grow the grapes and make the wine.
Bodegas Fariña
Ok, I understand it’s a little hard to believe that a full liter of super-tasty Tempranillo from a family-owned estate can make it all the way from the Toro to Asheville — and sell for just ten bucks. Thanks to our friends and connections, here and in Europe, it’s a reality!
There are a couple of factors that come together to make this happen. First, the Fariña family owns a ton of property, so there is a large economy of scale, resulting in a very reasonable export price. Secondly, I was introduced to this wine during my last buying trip to Spain with the husband and wife team of Eva López and Ignacio Alonso. They specialize in helping independent wine shops all over the world find the best quality and value in Spanish wine.
Bodegas Fariña began in 1942 when Salvador Fariña planted the family’s first vines in the dusty, arid terroir of the Toro. His tremendous pioneering efforts are well-acknowledged in the region since he was the first to embrace modern winemaking. Second-generation winemaker Manuel Fariña and his son Manu currently run the family property and remain dedicated to advancing their pioneering efforts.
The Toro’s vast high desert landscape, especially in winter, looks more like a moonscape, and one indeed wonders how anything can grow here — especially grapes. Once again, some of the most desolate, inhospitable parts of the planet produce exceptional grapes that make outstanding wine. The vineyards at Bodegas Fariña take full advantage of this punishing climate, and the roots of the old vines are forced to reach deep into the soil to find pockets of water.
The 2019 marks our third vintage of this tasty-Toro and in the glass, it’s the best one to date. The end of the growing season in 2019 was hotter and drier, producing a wine with more extraction, richness, and ripeness than previous vintages.
In your glass, the dark-garnet color leads to aromas of dark berries and spice on the nose. The palate is rich and silky with notes of plum, dark berry, and a touch of mocha along with soft, ripe tannins.
The moral of the story? Don’t be afraid of an inexpensive liter, especially when it’s made by the top estate in the Toro.
Bodegas Fariña Arco Iris Tinto
Toro, Spain
$
13
99
- Can't make it in? Call 828-253-0060 with your credit card number.
We'll hold your purchase in our temperature controlled cellar for pickup at your convenience
or we'll arrange for delivery. - Or Click below to check stock status and purchase online
Buy Now
Available for Curbside Pickup or Delivery
Looking for a better deal on this wine and tons of others?
Subscribe to the AWM Weekly Email Newsletter
Email subscribers enjoy exclusive insider pricing and special deals
Click Here