Abacela

Abacela: We make wine... and bread!

2012-01-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

Abacela -- Oregon's Best Baguette

By Cila Warncke, Portland Cooking Examiner

Recently, I had the privilege of a guided tour around Abacela Vineyard in Roseburg. The award-winning wines speak for themselves but the folks up at the winery have more than just neat tricks with Tempranillo up their sleeve -- they also bake the tastiest baguette I've eaten this side of Paris. The secret? Grapes.

Seriously. Hospitality manager Linda Kistner thought 'Why use any old yeast for starter when we have all these lovely fermented grapes to hand?' Her experiment with grape-yeast was a success and you can judge the results for yourself if you stop by the tasting room. If you are just hankering to know how the whole baking process works Linda is leading a workshop on February 11 to show you how to do it yourself.

Check out the Sourdough Bread Baking seminar on our Facebook page too!

Abacela makes top 25 of 2011 from Midwest Wine Guy!

2012-01-05T16:45:00.000-08:00

Our 2007 Estate Port style wine made Jeff's 2011 Top 25 Wine List at number 11. Read the full wine review.

More about Jeff Lawson: "Wine reviews for 'real people' who enjoy and appreciate all styles of wine. I am a supporter of great wines and want you to enjoy a thrilling sensory experience through the wine reviews on this site. I also provide wine education for the novice wine enthusiast. Wine is my passion. Wine should not intimidate you! It should be celebrated and enhance your life."

Abacela tops a Southern Oregon wines Reader Survey!

2011-12-26T11:40:00.000-08:00

Reader Survey... And the winners are...

By Christine Collier

I'd like to thank everyone who voted in the first annual Reader Survey! The intentions for hosting the survey is to hear what Southern Oregon wines the readers thought were the most exciting from the past year and which winery had most impressed them. By the turnout of votes, and record number of traffic to the blog post, it is easy to say this was a great year for Southern Oregon wine. I'm pleased to present this list.

2011 Red Wine of the Year

1. 2008 Del Rio Vineyards Claret

2. 2007 Abacela Reserve Tempranillo

3. 2005 Abacela Paramour

4. 2008 Troon Vineyard Zinfandel Reserve

5. 2008 Folin Cellars Estate Tempranillo

2011 White Wine of the Year

1. 2010 Abacela Albarino

2. 2010 Del Rio Vineyards Pinot Gris

3. 2010 Troon Vineyard Dry Riesling

4. 2010 Reustle-Prayer Rock Gruner Veltliner

5. 2010 Cowhorn Winery & Vineyard Spiral 36

Winery of the Year

1. Abacela

2. Del Rio Vineyards

3. Troon Vineyard

4. Cowhorn Winery & Vineyard

5. Red Lily Vineyard & Quady North Wines

Congratulations to all!

www.SouthernOregonWineBlog.com

Great new blog from the WineCatz!

2011-12-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

Move over Pinot
By Craig

Say “Oregon Wine” and Pinot Noir rolls off the tongue. But we’re here to say that Tempranillo, (yes I said Tempranillo) in the right hands is a wine capable of reaching the same lofty heights as the best Pinot. And those right hands can be found at Abacela winery.

Having had the wonderful opportunity to attend a vertical Tempranillo tasting at Abacela this fall, we were able to experience the evolution of this wine through the years. From the 1998 Estate Tempranillo that won double gold medals at the San Francisco International Wine Competition in 2000, to the 2007 Reserve of today, these wines showed an evolving greatness that makes us wonder if someday southern Oregon will be known for Tempranillo the way northern Oregon is for Pinot.

In the tasting, the 1998 has not lost the quality that allowed it to best all 19 Spanish Tempranillos it faced in the contest. Anise, raspberry and smoke on the nose. The wine still has bright cherry and raspberry fruit on the palate, the tannins soft and a bit chalky. On the other end of the tasting, the 2007 Reserve, just released this fall, lives up to its pedigree with the same rich fruit with undertones of sandalwood and sweet fig and an undercurrent of white chocolate and nutmeg. Complex and delicious today and should improve for 6 to 8 years.

The Catz current “fav” for price to deliciousness ratio is Abacela’s 2007 Estate Tempranillo. Bursting with plummy fruit, licorice, wildflowers and a hint of eucalyptus, ready to drink today or hold for a bit (we wouldn’t be able to wait) and a good deal at around $35 retail.

Visit www.WineCatz.com

Oregon Wine Geeks - New Reviews!

2011-11-04T10:59:00.000-07:00

2007 Cabernet franc

Score: 93
A dark ruby red wine from a Umpqua Valley producer that consistently make good wine. The nose is floral, black cherry, dark berry fruits, leather and vanilla. This is a rich full bodied wine on the palate, generous dark fruit with a more tart acidic finish with a layered tannic structure beneath. A very tasty Cabernet Franc with food or on its own. This has aging potential in the 5 to 8 year range but is good now.

2009 Garnacha

Score: 92
I’ve been waiting to try this since my last visit to the vineyard, luckily 38 Central had it there this week. A light colored wine with a nose of pie cherry, vanilla, charcoal and slight white pepper. The palate shows a nice fruit and complex layer of acid at the middle palate. The finish is dry and tannic, supple overtones and very long finish.

www.oregonwinegeeks.com

Oregon Wine Press's article on our 2005 Paramour

2011-11-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

Secret’s Out at Abacela

Umpqua winery unveils Paramour, a new wine with a long history

By Hilary Berg

If you ever have a secret you simply must tell someone, Earl Jones of Abacela is your man. Trust me, your secret will be safe.

You see, Earl and his wife, Hilda, have been keeping a secret sincebefore they arrived in Oregon in 1994, when they bought property in Roseburg for the sole purpose of planting Tempranillo — the famed grape of the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions of Spain.

Of course, it’s no secret they planted Tempranillo in what they named Fault Line Vineyard, and that they’ve been bottling it — and winning many awards — since 1997. Nevertheless, the big secret does have to do with their estate fruit.

Earl and Hilda announced their news to an intimate group, this writer included, in the Havana Room at ¡Oba! In downtown Portland, on Thursday, Sept. 29.

“[We] have been involved in what seems like a lifelong project: to make a different kind of wine that hasn’t been made in this country,” Earl said.

“Making this wine was our intent when we moved to Oregon. We had traveled in Europe and had tasted a lot of wines both here and there,” Earl continued. “We enjoyed the structure of Spain’s hierarchical top, the Gran Reservas, but we had some objections. Just like an art critic doesn’t have to like Michelangelo’s finest, we didn’t exactly like some of the wine’s attributes, so we thought we could make a better one. And that’s what we think we have in the bottle.”

The bottle Earl is referring to is Paramour, a 2005 proprietary, estate grown Tempranillo blend inspired by Spain’s celebrated Gran Reservas.

To be considered a Gran Reserva in Spain, law requires the wine spend two years in oak and three years in bottle. Earl followed Old World rules but tweaked a few practices to suit their style and, in their eyes, improve the wine.

Earl wanted French oak instead of American. He didn’t like the fact that American oak masked the fruit. He also didn’t care for the low level of extract in many of Spain’s Grand Reservas; he wanted more extract, more concentration.

“The winemaking of Gran Reservas has changed over the years. It seems we were not the only ones critical of the contents of the wines.”

Earl and Hilda have carefully appraised every vintage since 1997, looking for perfect conditions for the making of their first Gran Reserva style wine. After eight years, 2005seemed to have all the right ingredients, especially quality and quantity.

When Earl started making wine in the mid-’90s, he had never made a glass of wine before. “I just understood the words I had read.” After accumulating experience, he began to better understand Tempranillo. He experimented with blending and nurtured his estate vineyard through its early years.

“By 2005, we had tasted enough Tempranillo and had seen it age — and same with the other varietals — to put this wine together,” Earl said. “I personally could not have done it before 2003 or 2004; the vineyard needed that time.”

Earl sensed they had the possibility of making Paramour on the crush pad. “Since Tempranillo is the core of this wine, we had to have great Tempranillo, and we did.”

But it wasn’t until springtime, when malolactic fermentation was complete and it was time for its first racking, that Earl was certain the wine was going to be Gran Reserva quality. “It had better acidity than the 2000 vintage, which was a stellar vintage. So we thought, “Yeah, this might be the year.”

For the blend, they selected the very best barrels of the finest block of Tempranillo — the rest went into a Reserve Tempranillo that received high marks. They then picked the best barrels of the other blend components, which also earned their own individual awards.

After making the desired blend, Earl adjusted oak — average age of barrels was 1.7 years — to suit his palate and adjusted it again at around 18 months. In all, it spent two years in oak and four in bottle, hidden from passersby. Although it’s only five years before a traditional Gran Reserva can be released, Paramour took six. Earl said it needed the extra time in bottle.

“It has shed its baby fat and is beginning to express the structure, balance and beauty that we made it for,” Earl said.

The wine was released Oct. 15, six years to the day it was picked. Although Spanish Gran Reservas are spendy, Abacela will sell Paramour for $90 a bottle.

A majority, about 75 percent, of the 170-case production will be offered to the winery’s loyal wine club; the rest will be available at fine restaurants and wine shops, each with a very small allocation.

If you happen to get your hands on a bottle, don’t open it, but rather lay it down for at least ten years or more. As one of the tasters in the small group at ¡Oba! pointed out, “This is a collector’s wine that will cross generations.”

But don’t worry if you can’t find a bottle. Abacela has the next batch already in barrel. As for which vintage made the cut this time around, Earl’s not saying. As you can see, the secret is definitely safe with him.

Read the original article in the November issue of Oregon Wine Press.

More kudos for our 2005 Paramour...

2011-10-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

Recently, wine and food writer Janet Eastman published an article in the Mail Tribune that included our 2005 Paramour. The wine will be released to the public on November 13th at $90 per bottle or $540 for six bottles in a hand crafted wood box.

Janet commented, "if Abacela's wine-club members don't snag all 170 cases, you can spend $90 for a just-released bottle of 2005 Paramour, an American Gran Reserva-style Tempranillo”

In this article she quotes that Lorn Razzano of the venerable Ashland Wine Cellar wasn't shocked by the price:

"Earl Jones is one of the top five winemakers in the Northwest. As a quality statement, it might even be a bargain."

The 2005 Paramour is Abacela’s finest and most age worthy wine to date. It represents the pinnacle of Earl and Hilda's quest to pioneer fine Tempranillo in America.

Have you tried it yet? www.abacela.com

Abacela featured on NW Vine Time radio!

2011-10-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

Earl Jones was interviewed by Brian Bushlach for NW Vine Time on Newsradio 101 FM-KXL.

Listen to the first audio segment here:

www.abacela.com

Paul Gregutt reviews our new 2005 Paramour...

2011-10-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

introducing abacela’s gran reserva – paramour

By Paul Gregutt, Monday, October 17, 2011

Yesterday afternoon I popped the cork on a bottle of Abacela 2005 Paramour, which is being officially released to the world today. I have followed the efforts of Abacela’s Earl and Hilda Jones almost since their very first wines were released more than a decade ago. And I have never failed to be impressed with their vision, dedication, and (at times) dogged efforts to pioneer the cultivation of Iberian grapes – notably tempranillo – in southern Oregon’s Umpqua valley.

“We moved here to make this wine” is the opening quote from Earl Jones on the one-sheet that accompanied the bottle. In a phone call a week or so ago he elaborated on that thought.

“We’ve been trying to put together the components for a Gran Reserva style wine,” he explained in his soft southern drawl; “it’s been a dream since we came to Oregon. We’ve been very impressed with those kinds of wines, which are so much better than fruit forward, oak crianza, or even a reserve wine in Spain. This 2005 had two years in the finest French oak. It’s based on Tempranillo; the rest is a secret. It’s been in bottle four years; it’s just now emerging and revealing its true character.”

Naturally I had high expectations for the Paramour, not only because of what Jones had to say, but also because of the very high standards that previous vintages of Abacela reserves had already set. My expectations were more than exceeded, but not in the way I imagined. My thought was that this would be some sort of über-reserve – super-slathered in oak, dark as the night sky in Waitsburg, maybe a 16 percenter in the alcohol department.

In fact, none of the above is true. It is what you might call an intellectual wine. At first it is the aromas that show the complexity and detail, but the flavors remain locked up. They breathe open gracefully over some hours, and as they do the wine broadens out and lengthens. I won’t bother you with a shopping list of fruits and flavors – you will find them in abundance when you taste the wine for yourself. Suffice it to say that it is subtle, engaging, provocative and deep. The alcohol is listed as 14.2 percent, and just 30 percent of the French oak barrels were new. “Reduced from 100 percent to enhance fruit aromatics” notes Earl.

Just 169 cases were made. It was bottled on August 9th, and is estimated to reach full maturity in the next 6 – 15 years. Certainly the wine has the structure and mettle to age at least that long. It is offered for $90 through the winery’s wine club. (...details posted on the website... Try here! )

Postscript: One lesson immediately apparent from this lovely wine, is why context is so important in wine appreciation. Yes a more “objective” approach to reviewing would be to place the bottle in a blind tasting of other Tempranillo-based blends. Had I done so, in all honesty, the subtle elegance of this wine might have slid right past me. Blind tasting has an important place, and it is the sole approved method for my Wine Enthusiast scores and reviews. But in this instance, I chose to taste the wine solo and let the story impact me. I gave it extra time and consideration. I pulled so much more pleasure and value from the experience than I would have in a quick blind tasting. Sometimes, that is more important than a score.

Visit Paul Gregutt's Blog

2010 Grenache Rose rated "Outstanding!" and "Wine of the Week" by Wine Press Northwest.

2011-10-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Abacela 2010 Estate Grenache Rosé

By Wine Press Northwest

Appellation: Umpqua Valley

Earl Jones and winemaker Andrew Wenzl earned a Platinum for their 2008 Rosado, and while they now name this after the variety from which that was made, this vintage shows continued brilliance. And its striking color does not mislead. It portends sensations of maraschino cherry, fresh cranberry, strawberries/rhubarb compote, raspberry and juicy currant. The finish is bone dry, and its tartness provides a delicious bounce on the palate for a wide range of appetizers on a summer afternoon. Rated "Outstanding" by Wine Press Northwest magazine. (180 cases, 13.2% alc.)

Food matches: Try this with a couscous salad, tapenade, antipasto or barbecued chicken wings.

We are almost sold out of the 2010 Grenache Rosé, thank goodness the 2011 is currently fermenting!

New Article: Earl Jones, trip to Spain and knowlege garnered...

2011-10-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

Winston winery benefits from recent trip to Spanish vineyards

October, 12 2011; By Ryan Imondi, The News-Review

EARL JONES; Photo by Micheal Sullivan/The News-Review

A wine-centric tour of northern Spain may help Douglas County's wine industry flourish, according to some who made the trip.

A group eight wine producers, educators and enthusiasts recently traveled to the Ribera del Duero region as part of a cultural exchange with Roseburg sister city Aranda de Duero.

Besides enjoying the cuisine and observing the culture, some who went hope to forge an alliance between the Umpqua Valley and one of Spain's noted wine-growing regions.

The regions have in common the tempranillo, a black grape that makes full-bodied red wines.

For centuries the grape was confined to Spain, but eventually was planted in small areas of California, Chile, Mexico and Australia.

Abacela winery owner Earl Jones became enamored with Spanish wines during a trip to Spain with his wife in the 1980s. He planted his first tempranillo grapes at his Winston-area winery in 1995.

He said he was the first wine grower to produce the Spanish grape in North America outside of California.

“I was so puzzled why one of the world's greatest wine grapes was not being consumed in America,” Jones said.

Now more than 100 wineries produce tempranillo in the U.S., including many in Southern Oregon.

Jones said Tuesday he returned from the recent trip to Spain with more knowledge and plans to plant more tempranillo grapes.

“We're very excited. It will enable us to make a superior wine,” he said.

The associate director of the Southern Oregon Wine Institute, Dwayne Bershaw, said tempranillo grapes are relatively difficult to grow well, but Southern Oregon's short but hot summers are suitable.

While touring large barrel rooms inside century old buildings, the group saw how the Spanish region's wine industry contrasted with the relatively young Umpqua Valley industry.

“Their wineries are on a much larger scale. They are more like the wineries in Napa Valley, where we're more of a mom-and-pop setup,” Jones said.

The regions, nevertheless, may be able to learn from each other.

Bershaw and Umpqua Community College language professor Ni Aodagain hope to establish a student-exchange program with a Spanish school, Colegio San Gabriel

“An international internship is considered a right of passage in the wine industry. This is going to be a very valuable internship for our students,” Bershaw said.

• Original Article

New blog from Sommelier Wayne Walker

2011-10-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

Oregon Wineries: from the journals of Sommelier Wayne Walker

When people refer to AVA’s (American Viticultural Area) in Oregon, they usually think of two designations: Willamette and Walla Walla. But the Wine-Jedi would say, “There is another.” It is designated as Southern Oregon and is comprised of Umpqua Valley, Red Hills Douglas County, Rogue Valley and Applegate Valley.

The modern era of grape growing in Oregon began in the Umpqua Valley just North of Roseburg in 1961 with the first planting of commercial vines. The complex topography of this area is marked by the convergence of three different mountain ranges. Where there’s mountains, there’s valleys and where there’s valleys at this latitude with Oregon’s potential for rich soil and greenhouse effect; there’s wine! It is identified as having 2,001,430 acres. A good deal of the agricultural part of this is vineyards.

I headed South about 65 miles today to have a look and was very impressed by the size and development of the vineyards in this area. Rather than stop at 3 or 4 wineries, I decided to let GPS take me on a tour. She decided we didn’t have to get too far off the I-5 South. It was a very comfortable, scenic drive through the mountain ranges and valleys all draped in their cloaks of vines. Some vineyards are as large as in the Willamette, but for the most part, terroir-driven artisanal wines are predominant.

Of course, I couldn’t go by every tasting room so I chose to stop at a winery called Abacela, which is an almost-obsolete verb meaning “to plant vines” in three Iberian based languages, Spanish, Portugese and Galician. My reasoning was to taste the Iberian wines they were growing: Albarino, Garnacha, Tempranillo and Port. I thought they would be the best way to test the stories I’d heard about the warmer micro climates in the South.

The winery and the vineyard are very impressive. Preparations were being made via nets for the
soon-to-be-arriving bird migrations, in particular the droves of Cedar Waxwings that come down from Canada and fill up on vineyard grapes on their way to the Baja Peninsula. In evidence were the rows of grapes covered with nets, one of the many deterrents used to save the harvest.

As for the wines, they all had the aroma profiles you would expect of the same varietals grown in the Signature countries. They were all quite young and needed a bit more bottle aging. The Tempranillo was a good drink and a Dolcetto that was made onsite showed some good promise. The Albarino however was a winner with nice light body, great acidity, and lemon, pineapple, wild flowers, and honeysuckle all present and accounted for both on the nose and on the palate. I could hear the echo of Pacific white fish coming up the valley as I tried to capture it’s fleeting finish.

Abacela boasts three different terroirs on their property: cool North Slopes where they grow Albarino, warm bench lands where they grow Tempranillo and hot South facing slopes where they grow Port (I assume that would be Touriga Nacional or Xarel-ho).

There is a great deal of difference between the heat needed for Port as compared to Albarino and since the Reds were good I think it shows the vineyards amazing micro climate diversity. I also tasted a Syrah that was quite good with a lot of potential to be part of a full-bodied red blend. Full blog

2011 Verjus released!

2011-10-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

We're proud to announce the release of our 2011 Verjus!

Verjus is made from the pressed juice of grapes that are not fully ripe. These grapes are harvested while green thinning the vineyards and instead of leaving them to waste, are made into a juice that is moderate in sugar and high in acid (low pH) giving it a zippy flavor. Verjus was made famous by French chefs and now in America it’s also a favorite of gourmet cooks.

Verjus is a non-alcoholic juice, made from Abacela’s estate vitis vinifera grapes. Uses include salad dressing, marinades, deglazing, and drinks. It is a good replacement when a recipe calls for vinegar or lemon juice because Verjus doesn’t compete with the wine you are serving. Verjus is particularly useful with chicken and pork dishes that can become dry during the cooking process; verjus simply puts “a snappy taste” back in these meats.

Verjus can also be enjoyed as a non-alcoholic drink over ice with equal parts seltzer water. Bartenders also use it as a intriguing mixer for martinis and specialty cocktails.

Look for Abacela’s 2011 Verjus through your local Oregon retailer or order online at www.abacela.com. Oregon distributors: Galaxy Wine Company (888) 550-9463, Crush Wine Distributors (541) 961-0300.

New article about recent trip to Spain... Tempranillo!

2011-10-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

Tracking Tempranillo

Story and photography by Janet Eastman

Some people will go to great lengths to learn about wine.

In early September, eight Roseburg residents flew 6,000 miles to study Tempranillo in Spain’s Ribera del Duero. For three days, the group, led by Earl Jones of Abacela, walked across silty soil and into damp wine cellars.

They toured high-production wineries with fortresses of American-made oak barrels, and they visited contemporary tasting rooms, where they sipped wine made in individually temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.

But they were never far from the past.

In every village they entered, they discovered artifacts of this region’s 2,000-year-old wine history: Roman mosaics, hand-hewn wine presses, old bush vines. In the small town of Penaranda de Duero, the tourist office is inside a 300-year-old bodega with a fermentation tank that looks like a swimming pool.

The group of winemakers, teachers and civic supporters even found a way for Oregon students to practice viticulture, enology and Spanish.

In between serious meetings and fact-finding excursions, the group feasted on roasted lamb, Iberian ham and black pudding. They gave away American flag pins and weighed down their own lapels with badges representing Spain’s football teams and wine clubs.

When they presented the mayor of Aranda de Duero with a cowboy hat, the photo made the front page of the Diario de Burgos newspaper.

Three of the eight visitors — Umpqua Community College assistant professor of romance languages Ni Aodagain, Southern Oregon Wine Institute associate director Dwayne Bershaw and Roseburg Sister City board member Dorothy Williams — extended their stay to join in the fun of the Festival of the Virgin of the Vines.

Each year, under a sky filled with confetti, crowds gather around the Plaza Mayor in Aranda de Duero for the festival that honors the city’s patron saint and its vineyard workers.

From the balcony of the Town Hall, the three Roseburg residents could survey the young people as they sprayed one another with carbonated soda and foam. Two men in wine-stained T-shirts held a cardboard sign proclaiming their addiction to vino tinto.

The sign. The celebration. Fifty thousands acres of producing vineyards and 250 wineries prove it. In Ribera del Duero, Tempranillo is king.

The Mission

If Earl Jones and other winemakers have their way, Southern Oregon will break out of the fog of growing too many varietals and settle on one bright light: Tempranillo.

The complex red wine of Spain was first planted here 16 years ago, and Oregon’s version has since earned attention at international competitions and the interest of wine appreciators.

Jones’ devotion to the noble grape goes beyond his Roseburg vineyard. In 2007, he paved the way for his city on the Umpqua River to become a sister city to Aranda de Duero on the Duero River.

The relationship between the two cities is more than social. Behind the decree is the serious intention to expand education, cultivate distinctive varietals and grow world interest for Oregon wines.

In 20 years, Jones thinks Oregon wine could reach high quality to compete with Spain. “People are beginning to understand Tempranillo and express its characteristics as well as or better than Spain,” he said.

The road that leads to the Southern Oregon Wine Institute’s new learning center is called Aranda de Duero Avenue. Officials from Aranda visited Roseburg last year. In September, Jones was a member of the eight-member delegation to visit Spain.

“The foundation stone of anything in the New World has to begin with the recognition of the Old World,” said Jones, after sharing a paella dinner and a magnum of Vina Pedrosa 2006 Reserva with his group and Aranda officials at the old town’s Restaurante La Raspa.

Tempranillo is cultivated across Spain, notably in the Rioja region and here in the northern plateau of Ribera del Duero. Vino titans Vega Sicilia, Tinto Pesquera and others benefit from the higher elevation and extreme temperatures during growing days. Here, most bottles are unabashedly 100-percent Tempranillo.

Ribera del Duero has acres of vineyards crossing the provinces of Burgos, Segovia, Soria and Valladolid. Almost half of its residents — 30,000 people — live in Aranda, where wine has played a part in the culture since the 12th century.

Five miles of subterranean tunnels connect wine cellars. The cellars are maintained by men’s clubs, called penas, and are kept private, except during festivals, by unmarked entrances on the street level and iron gates under the ground.

When Earl and Hilda Jones visited Ribera del Duero in 1986, there were no tasting rooms and not even a hint of an eno-tourism experience. The region had been deemed a Designation of Origin only four years before. Producers, however, were on a quest to revive the wine industry by blending labor-intensive old ways with modern processes.

Now, Vina Pedrosa, which nurtures 80-year-old Tempranillo vines, has an efficient winery and a sleek reception hall where Pilar Gonzalez pours wine for the King of Spain and American tourists.

The Roseburg group also met silver-haired Benjamin Pérez Pascuas, whose father planted the vines before Benjamin was born. The winery opened in 1980, when the region was enjoying a wine revival. That continues to build.

The Score

Two days into their mission, the Roseburg group attained one of their greatest goals: to lay the foundation for a student exchange program.

It happened on the vineyard-laced campus of Colegio San Gabriel. Ten years ago, alumni turned to the Catholic school for help. The community needed trained vineyard workers. A request to Rome to pay for teachers and classrooms was approved on three conditions: 1) the school make good wine; 2) teach students to make good wine; 3) and make enough profit to send to its missions.

San Gabriel grows Tempranillo across 35 acres and sends 13,000 bottles of wine a year to China. Students receive on-the-job training and learn in high-tech labs better than where most of the graduates will work, said Alicia Vitores, head of the school’s enology program.

Professionals and visitors are offered daylong courses and hands-on experiences.

Bershaw of the Southern Oregon Wine Institute explained to San Gabriel’s director, Jose Enrique Garcia Aguera, that Umpqua Community College offers one-year certificates in viticulture and enology.

The director, dressed in a white lab coat, said through an interpreter that he would welcome an exchange. Notice of the meeting was soon posted on San Gabriel’s website (www.colegiosangabriel.es).

Earl Jones says the sister city program depends on personal connections. He visits Aranda often, usually accompanied by someone who can help strengthen the relationship.

“I’d like to raise my glass to the Spanish people’s hospitality, kindness, generosity and great sense of humor,” said Jones at the end of a grand meal at the Hotel Palacio Ducal de Lerma, a restored 17th century palace. “We have enjoyed these days, and we welcome a delegation from Aranda to come to Roseburg.”

UCC language professor Ni Aodagain sees great possibilities for her students to spend five to 10 weeks studying in Aranda. “The root of an exchange program is to learn, to be exposed to other cultures and to make lasting friendships.”

It seems this is the foundation of a sister city program, too.

Janet Eastman writes for national publications and is the wine columnist for the Medford Mail Tribune. Original article

Abacela, proud sponsor of the Portland Opera!

2011-09-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

The Portland Opera's BIG NIGHT was Saturday, September 24th and owner Earl Jones and winemaking intern Jose Tejedor attended as sponsorship guests. Here are a few pictures from the event:

Street Fair and concert in the Keller Fountain Plaza

Earl and Jose enjoying a glass of Reserve Tempranillo.

The Notte Grande Gala Reception was held in the Keller Auditorium and featured Abacela's 2010 Albarino and 2007 Reserve Tempranillo.

Yellow capsules!

Except from a new article about Southern Oregon wineries...

2011-09-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

Sampling Southern Oregon’s marvelous wines.

By Roy Stevenson, September 16, 2011

Southern Oregon is fast becoming recognized as a viticultural powerhouse, as it’s wines keep gaining national and international recognition. Two appellations in particular, the Umpqua Valley and the Rogue Valley, are the primary engines behind this wine renaissance, with a remarkable array of reds, whites and varietals that wine lovers a diverse selection indeed.

The Umpqua Valley’s wine legacy can be traced from Richard Summers, who first planted vines in Roseburg in 1961, making the Umpqua Valley the oldest continually producing wine region in the Pacific Northwest and the cradle of the Oregon wine industry.

Summers, founder of Hillcrest Winery, planted his vines against the advice of Californian vintners who believed the climate and soil were not right for grapes. It turned out that the valley’s different geologic terranes produced a rich diversity of landscapes and microclimates along its 45-mile length, which in turn have yielded a phenomenal array of grape varieties. This is Oregon’s (and probably the U.S.A’s) most complex and interesting wine-growing region.

The cool north valley region, with its good sun exposure and coastal maritime influence produces outstanding Pinot noir, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer. The warm temperatures of the valley’s central sub zone are responsible for great Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and many varietals. The southern valley region, with broad, steep oak forested hillsides and southern exposure receives plenty of sunshine leading to some superb Baco Noir, Viognier, Cabernet, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, and Syrah.

Despite its impressive history, this appellation is often referred to as “America’s last Undiscovered Wine Region”, and boasts 19 wineries, each with its own distinct history and ambiance....

Picturesque Abacela Vineyards and Winery is on the same latitude as northern Spain, and physician turned winemakers Earl Jones and Andrew Wenzl specialize in Spanish varietals on this immaculately maintained vineyard. Located on a steep, dry, south-facing series of hills, Abacela makes a spectacular vista, and can almost be mistaken for an aged Italian or Spanish vineyard.

The undulating hillside has so many terroir micro-pockets that Earl has an impressive variety of grapes growing in tidily marked lots including tempranillo, syrah, malbec, Grenache, albarino, dolcetto, and garnacha. He specializes in big, deeply colored reds that are aged for several years, to yield intense varietal character, a hint of fruit and oak, with a solid body. Earl’s Abacela tempranillo has won international awards, making it the first American vineyard to do so for this varietal.

...A wine tour of the Umpqua Valley will provide the taster with an excellent and diverse selection of Southern Oregon’s wines, and just as important, provide some marvelous memories and experiences as you visit these distinctly different wineries and meet their winemakers.

These then, are a sampling of some of the Umpqua Valley and Applegate Valley’s wineries—not a complete listing by any means. One of the most enjoyable things about wine tasting in this area is the tremendous diversity in the ambiance and atmosphere of each of these wineries. All are unique in their size, shape and service, but all have one thing in common—their outstanding wines.

If you plan on visiting the area to do some wine tasting, allow several days to fully appreciate each winery, rather than rushing from place to place. These graceful winery valleys are relaxing if you ease back and let them slow you down to country time.

Read the full article here.

Up and Coming Red Wines - Cabernet franc

2011-09-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

A new review of our wine by WinesNorthwest.com's Chuck Hill in his online column Wines of the Week. (Part 2 of 4)

Abacela, 2007 Cabernet Franc, Southern Oregon, $27.00

Sourcing fruit from different sub-regions proved to be an important consideration in the creation of Abacela's 2007 Cabernet Franc. The fruit from the estate Fault Line Vineyard in Roseburg was combined with Rogue Valley fruit from Alta Seca and Pheasant Hill Vineyards. Owner Earl Jones feels that the warmer Rogue fruit contributed ripe blueberry, lavender and sweet vanilla, while his estate fruit supplied savory aromatics of floral notes and herbs along with a backbone of fine-grained tannins. A nice combination of the new- and old-world styles, it was the top-scoring wine in our tasting with mixed grill of lamb and goat.

Another great story by wine columnist Janet Eastman

2011-09-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Abacela Tempranillo celebrates Tempranillo Day

by Janet Eastman

Earl and Hilda Jones of Abacela winery introduced Tempranillo and other Spanish varietals to Oregon decades ago. And although Earl Jones is in Portugal now on his way to Spain, he reminds us that today, September 1, is the First Annual International Tempranillo Day. The Roseburg resident will be celebrating with his son, climatologist Greg Jones, at an international workshop and tasting in Regua in the Douro Valley.

Since Tempranillo means “early” in Spanish, we suggest you start thinking about ways to celebrate Tempranillo this morning. Here are some events organized by the Tempranillo Advocates Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) in Oregon, California and Washington:

* Vertical Tasting at Abacela - A tasting of library Tempranillos from several vintages, including Abacela’s 1997 Estate Tempranillo, the first commercial bottling of 100% varietal Tempranillo produced in America in the modern era, starting at 1 p.m today.

* Wine Tasting at Joe Monkey-Chimps Hangout Wine & Martini Bar – Various samples of Tempranillo wine (including Abacela) from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. today at 500 SE Cass St., Roseburg, 541-679-5444

[*Abacela's Earl Jones is in Portugal celebrating Tempranillo Day as well!]

Read the full blog here.

International Tempranillo Day 2011 - September 1st

2011-09-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

We've already seen lots of tweets, blog, and FB posts about Tempranillo Day...

Starting with Earl Jones in Portugal:

"Enjoying a bottle of 2006 Foral Reserva (tempranillo based wine) with friends and dinner at Quinta Tourais in Requa Portugal welcoming in tomorrow (International Tempranillo Day)!".

Then to blog already posted by @winerabble:

Sept. 1: International Tempranillo Day by Michele Francisco

How do you plan to celebrate this wonderfully inky noble wine?

For beginners out there who haven’t yet tried this grape varietal, I highly recommend seeking it out! (It’s pronouncing tem • pra • ne-yo just so you know!) Born and raised in the higher elevations of Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions of Spain, the noble Tempranillo has now migrated across the globe. The neighboring country of Portugal refers to it as Tinta Roriz and when it first arrived to the United States, it was called Valdepenas.

Since Tempranillo has traveled out west, I thought it would be a great adventure to take a short trip down to the pioneering winery that first brought this grape to the state of Oregon. Earl and Hilda Jones at Abacela Winery, located in the heart of the Umpqua Valley, saw the full potential of Tempranillo grapes and planted acres of them at their Fault Line Vineyard. Just a few short years later their efforts were well rewarded when an Abacela wine was awarded top honor over almost twenty other Spanish-made Tempranillos.

Having enjoyed Abacela’s wines on a number of occasions including a winery visit last winter, I can’t think of a more appropriate way to celebrate International Tempranillo Day than with the pioneers who had so much faith in this grape!

If you’re inspired to celebrate International Tempranillo Day, please enjoy a glass of Tempranillo with your pre-Labor day BBQ and a toast to the inventive Americans who have ensured Tempranillo’s future in our country. If you’d rather commemorate the grape’s Spanish origins, share your wine with friends over tapas! Either way, enjoy this full-bodied, jammy noble wine with a hearty “salud!”

Wow... and it's not even 10:30 am yet!

More info:

www.abacela.com

www.tapasociety.org

www.twitter.com/abacela

www.facebook.com/abacelawinery

Up and Coming Red Wines - Malbec

2011-08-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

A new review of our wine by WinesNorthwest.com's Chuck Hill in his online column Wines of the Week.

Abacela 2008 Malbec Estate, Umpqua Valley, $25.00

Earl Jones was one of the first to recognize the potential for growing warm weather varietals from Spain in Oregon's warm Umpqua Valley. Along with his favorite Tempranillo, he also grows Garnacha [called Grenache in France], Malbec, Syrah, Albarino, Viognier and others.

This wine shows Malbec's ripe fruit character in a very appealing way, with ripe blueberries and dried cherries defining aroma and flavor. Floral notes, citrus, herbs and a hint of mint follow, creating a complex, food-friendly experience.

International Tempranillo Day at Abacela!

2011-08-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

For the world’s first International Tempranillo Day Abacela will celebrate by hosting a modified Vertical Style Tasting of Library Tempranillos that represent milestones in both Abacela’s and America’s history with this noble grape variety...

The oldest wine in this Golden Collection is;
• Abacela’s 1997 Estate Tempranillo; which is thought to be the first commercial bottling of 100% varietal Tempranillo produced in America in the modern era.

• Abacela’s 1998 Estate Tempranillo; This wine became famous as the first American Tempranillo to win an International Tempranillo Competition by garnering a Double Gold Medal and besting all entries including 19 wines from Spain’s famous Rioja and Ribera del Duero Regions

• Abacela’s 2000 Estate Reserve Tempranillo; was the first such wine produced at Abacela and has been considered by some to be one of the best Pacific Northwest wines of all time.

• Abacela’s 2005 Estate Reserve Tempranillo; won America’s first Medal De Oro for varietal Tempranillo in Spain’s Tempranillo Al Mundo Competition.

Guests in our Bacchus Room

The youngest wine in this series is Abacela’s 2009 Estate Reserve Tempranillo which, albeit very recently bottled and not released for at least another year, appears to reflect its pedigree and looks to the future proudly.

The tasting will begin at 1:00 pm in the Bacchus Room of the Vine & Wine Center on September 1st, International Tempranillo Day and is offered complimentary to the first 20 interested persons that call (541) 679-6642 option 2 or email to reserve a seat.

Inaugural VIP Tastings held at Abacela

2011-08-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

Bacchus Room: Terroir of Fine Wine

On Saturdays July 23rd and August 6th Abacela presented a series of VIP Tastings of its fine wines personally hosted by Earl Jones the founder and first winemaker of Abacela.

The first two VIP Tastings were the inaugural events set at our new Vine & Wine Center's private venues. The tastings were part of Abacela's "new concepts in wine tourism" and they were truly immersive in nature. Each experience took the guest to the next level of wine appreciation. The selected wines were carefully paired with tapas that further elevated the experience.

"A Study in the Terroir of Fine Wine" was held in our Bacchus Room on July 23rd. The tasting started with three 2005 Syrah bottlings each grown in Abacela's estate vineyards, but in differing microclimates. The "terroir" is reflected in the tasting and character of these wines:
2005 Syrah; Terroir: Cooler blocks
2005 Syrah Estate; Terroir: Warm benchlands
2005 Reserve Syrah; Terroir: Hot hillsides (Southern Oregon's only 95 point wine)

The second half of this tasting consisted of three different varieties not commonly grown in the same regions but all grown at Abacela in very different sites that are carefully matched to the grape's distinct needs.

2010 Albariño; Terroir: Coolest north slope blocks; Pairing: Radish with Butter &Salt
2007 Tempranillo Estate; Terroir: Benchlands; Pairing: Rioja-Style Potatoes with Chorizo
2007 Port; Terroir: Our hottest hillside locations; Pairing: Chocolate assortment

Earl Jones and guests in the Library Wine Cellar

"A Study in the Ageing of Fine Wine" was held in our Library Wine Cellar on August 6th. This vertical of Abacela Tempranillo included six vintages; 1999, 2000 (Reserve), 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 - plus the 2005 Reserve as a bonus. These rare wines were opened, decanted and prepared in advance of the tasting. Pairings included an assortment of fine cheeses, sourdough bread from our “horno”, Linda's famous empanadas, as well as finishing chocolates.

Check out all the photos on Flikr

Abacela will hold a VIP Tasting each month, alternating venues. For more information and schedule, please visit our website to view our Events page or join our eNews List or join us on Facebook.

"Gold Discovered at Abacela Winery"

2011-07-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

By The Catz

I feel like a modern day James Marshall pulling that first nugget out of the river at Sutter’s Mill, in California. Only this is Oregon and what I found was a winery. But one that is worthy of its own “gold rush”. I/we could not have asked for a better time on our visit to their winery and tasting room.

Abacela’s beautiful new facility just opened in May. Designed by the owners’ daughter it is a multi-use building with a huge open beamed vaulted ceiling, and a spacious granite topped bar allowing space for plenty of tasters, (space not needed, as it was delightfully uncrowded) a meeting area, library and more. Outside there is a patio with a wood fired oven where they bake their own home made yummy sourdough bread, several picnic areas and gazebos with tables and chairs, lawns and walking paths, and interesting informational signs. The whole effect, though still a little raw because of its newness, was spacious and beautiful, and promises to grow gracefully into an enchanting place worth a visit for the ambiance alone. The views from here are spectacular.

Oh, did we forget to mention the wine? The wine itself was a revelation.

Our server made us feel right at home (better actually I wish my home looked like this). With 5 flights to choose from, we were glad of a little friendly advice and soon we were tasting. We had three tasters (and one very much appreciated designated driver) and each took a different flight so we could experience as wide a variety as possible. There was a small tasting charge – between $5 and $15 per flight, reasonable in itself with wine of this quality - and refunded for a purchase of 3 bottles or more.

And the wines. I am afraid I am going to burst into song like in a bad musical. (Judy here, Craig is far too manly, and would never burst into song, nor get teary eyed about wine.) All I can say is, it has never been my privilege to try this many fabulous red wines at one go. Not a clinker in the bunch. Just one amazing wine after another. From the easy going vintners blend to the better-than-a-sinful-chocolate-dessert port (yes, really), we had smiles on our faces the whole time (along with some groaning and eye rolling which seemed to please our server immensely). Our sincere kudos go to winemaker Andrew Wenzl for his deft touch.

Abacela’s owners chose this site believing that it was a perfect place to grow Iberian varieties. And, though I am no expert on the “classic varietal expression” for these varieties, I do know that Abacela was the first American winery to have its Tempranillo judged superior to those from Spain (2001 SF International Wine Competition).

Among all these lovely wines, it is hard to pick favorites, some were more along the lines of “food” wines” and so difficult to really tell how much more they would shine matched with the right food. One that is still haunting me is the Dolcetto. What did we “have to” buy and take home? A gorgeous 2008 Malbec, the 2007 Estate Tempranillo – Intense, complex and joyful – and the silken rich Port. (Reviews to come when we open them.)

We didn’t get to try them all, so fair warning Abacela, the Catz will be back.

Want more? Visit: WineCatz.com or see the original post.

Richard Jenning's Recap of the TAPAS Grand Tasting

2011-06-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

2011 TAPAS (Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society) TASTING

– Herbst Pavillion, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California (6/5/2011) by Richard Jennings RJonWine.com

This was the fourth annual TAPAS grand tasting at Fort Mason in San Francisco, and the second one I’ve been able to attend. The TAPAS mission is to promote new world production of wine grapes and wine styles native to the Iberian Peninsual (Spain and Portugal). These grape varieties include white grapes Albariño, Garnacha Blanca (Grenache Blanc) Malvasia Bianca, Torrontes, Verdejo and Verdelho, and red grapes Garnacha (Grenache), Graciano, Monastrell (Mourvèdre), Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional.

As I reported after attending the event two years back, I believe the most successful Spanish import to the U.S. so far has been Albariño, with its refreshing high acidity and ability to pair with lots of foods. It does well when aged in stainless steel as well as oak, and its high acidity gives it some good aging potential. There were several fine examples at this event. Another white variety doing well in the U.S. is Verdelho, the high acid grape from my beloved island of Madeira, not to be confused with Verdejo, the flavorful but often herbaceous white grape that dominates in Spain’s Rueda region. I also believe that Portuguese varieties Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and the like do well in the heat of California growing regions, and there are some respectable single varietal and blended versions being made. I am more reserved about the success of Tempranillo, Spain’s most widely planted grape, in the U.S. as I have yet to taste any that really wow me, unlike a great old Gran Reserva from Rioja. Tempranillo is a grape that is typically low in acidity and fairly high in tannins, so it needs some years of aging to mellow out. Most of the plantings of it in the U.S. are still fairly young, and few U.S. producers have been making wine from it here long enough to have examples with significant age on them. The oldest U.S. bottling I’ve tasted to date was a 2000 Truchard, which was appealing (I rated it 89 points). The very best domestic Tempranillo I’ve had to date, which I rated 93 points, was from a producer not represented at this event, Cayuse. The 2007 Cayuse Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard, after eight hours of decanting, was a complex and flavorful monster, if a little concentrated for my taste. Nonetheless, there were a few good California and Oregon versions of this varietal as well at the tasting, showing some potential yet for this grape, especially when given some significant barrel and/or bottle age.

I was impressed by Abacela’s Albariño at this event two years ago, and I was delighted by the line up this time. The Albariño was the best of that varietal I tasted, the Tempranillo Reserve was one of the best Tempranillos of the day, and the “Port” was my WOTD.

Earl Jones became enamored of Spanish wines that were dominated by Tempranillo when he found years ago that they paired better with spicy meats and peppery foods that he likes. After lots of research, and travel with wife Hilda to Spain, the couple planted Tempranillo in 1995 in Southern Oregon on land in Umpqua Valley they purchased in 1992. In 1997, they made the Pacific Northwest’s first Tempranillo. They grow lots of other varieties too, including Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. They also do a lot of experimentation, with clones and rootstocks, and 10% of the grapes are planted on their own rootstock. The winemaker is Andrew Wenzl, who previously worked at King Estate and Silvan Ridge-Hinman Vineyards. They’re clearly very serious about what they do, and the results show. The wines are reasonably priced too: the Albariño sells for $18; the Port, my favorite wine of the tasting, goes for $50.

2010 Abacela Albariño Estate Grown – USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Umpqua Valle

Intense, citrus, chalk nose; tasty, tart citrus, grapefruit, mineral palate with medium-plus acidity; medium-plus finish (100% stainless steel) (91 pts.)

2008 Abacela Tempranillo – USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Umpqua ValleyLight plum, berry nose; medium bodied, tart plum, tart berry palate; medium finish (clones 2 and 3) (87 pts.)

2007 Abacela Tempranillo Estate Grown – USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Umpqua ValleyDeep black fruit, tar nose; tart black fruit, tar, charcoal palate; needs 3-plus years; medium-plus finish (95% French oak, 10% new; clones 1, Ribera and Toro) (88 pts.)

2007 Abacela Tempranillo Reserve – USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Umpqua ValleyAromatic, berry, tar, anise nose; tight, tasty, tart black fruit, tart plum palate with good acidity; needs 3-plus years; medium-plus finish (100% French oak for 13 mos., 1 year in bottle) (90 pts.)

2007 Abacela Port – USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Umpqua ValleyVery dark purple red violet color; rich berry, black fruit, licorice nose; very tasty, complex, tart black fruit, tar, licorice palate with acidity; remarkably good U.S. port; long finish 92+ points (Tempranillo 53%, Bastardo 19%, Tinta Amarela 13%, Tinta Cáo 9% and Touriga Naçional 6%) (92 pts.)

Read the full blog

Another Great review from Midwest Wine Guy

2011-06-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

2007 Abacela Port

The 2007 Abacela Port wine is a blend of 5 Douro grape varietals - Tempranillo (53%), Bastardo (19%), Tinta Amarela (13%), Tinta Cao (9%) and Touriga Nacional (6%). This opaque purple wine is ricly textured and has aromas of blackberry, raisin, spice, chewy figs and dried apricot. The alcohol content is well within check for a port at 19% and this young wine is not fumey or hot at all. In fact, it is incredibly smooth and silky, leaving you wanting more with each sip. The dried fruits and rich flavorful black fruits shine through on the palate, combined with cocoa powder, soft ripe plums and blueberry. Historically many young ports can be difficult to enjoy and require years of cellaring before they can be tasted appropriately. The good folks at Abacela have created a port that is not only approachable now, but one of the best that I have tasted in many months. I would suggest buying a few bottles - one to enjoy now and then cellar the others for awhile to see what flavors develop further. This wine would be a perfect match for a three layer chocolate fudge cake, but I tasted it on its own mertit and I was blown away. Tasted from a 375ml bottle. (750ml available) Score: 93 Full blog

Abacela takes BEST OF CLASS for 2010 Albarino

2011-06-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

We're excite to announce that our 2010 Albariño just took the BEST IN CLASS with a Gold Medal and 93 point rating.

Comments on our Facebook announcement:

Shannon W. "That's a no brainer! Your Albarino is my favorite wine!!"

Mandy v. "Congrats! So deserving!"

Tim & Charlene V. "Congrats on the well deserved award!"

2011 TAPAS Grand Tasting

2011-06-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

Abacela proprietors, Earl & Hilda Jones

A great new blog about this past weekend's TAPAS Grand Tasting in San Francisco, CA....
TAPAS wines defy convention...
by Randy Caparoso

At the TAPAS Grand Tasting in the City by the Bay

Over 1,900 wine and food lovers attended the TAPAS (Tempranillo Advocates Producers & Amigos Society) Grand Wine Tasting in San Francisco’s Fort Mason this past Saturday, June 4; making this the third year in a row that attendance to this once modest affair has doubled.

Out of that 1,900+, some 75% of those attendees were clearly younger than 35, giving the organization’s wineries (about 80 of them), growers and card holding “amigos” (another 30+) a strong idea of where their pan is currently being buttered.

... and as we all know, when it comes to fashion, food and wine, very often the other consumer segments follow the younger crowd.   It often takes the older folks a little longer to catch on to a good thing like this: the appreciation of wines and foods associated with grapes of Spanish and Portuguese traditions.

Second, your come-to-Jesus caveat: these wines do not lend themselves to the same ol’ qualitative assessments to which mommy and daddy, gramps and granny used to subscribe, and blindly follow. You cannot put a number like “95” or “85” on, say, the 2007 Abacela Umpqua Valley Estate Tempranillo – grown, as it were, by TAPAS founder Earl Jones in the rolling hills of Southern Oregon – as dark, buoyant, concentrated, fraise-like, fleshy or wild beasty a red wine as you may perceive it to be.

Fact of the matter is, an Abacela Tempranillo knows no stinking numbers when you actually drink it the right way, with something like herb roasted leg of lamb. a whole pig, or grilled, pungent portobellos or eggplant.   It’s when you experience such wines in culinary context that meaty flavors and complexities your senses have no way of detecting when tasting the wine on its own suddenly emerge and knock you upside the chin, and then you are visited by this epiphany: wines crafted from Spanish and Portuguese grapes cannot, should not, and absolutely will not be pinned down by concepts as odiferous as 100 point scores, as well meaning as people who dole them out may be.

Judging from the crowd at the TAPAS tasting in San Francisco, we think this “new” way (actually an old way, since wine historically evolved within culinary cultures) of appreciating wine may finally be sinking in:   people there for an experience of good wines, not to make judgements, or to rush home afterwards and tear out those dreary magazines or dive into online reviews droning mindlessly on with “ratings” as if good drinking wines were appliances awaiting their Good Housekeeping seals of approval...

Read more...

New Reviews from the Midwest Wine Guy

2011-05-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

2010 Albariño

Albariño isn't a wine that is produced by every winery in the United States, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to taste this wine. The 2010 vintage is full of fresh fruits on the nose and in the mouth - pineapple, apple, and yellow ripe pears. There is a floral aroma and a taste of orange creamsicle towards the end. Sometimes there is a residual bitterness in Albarino, but you don't have any of this with this wine. I love the fact that this is all estate grown fruit and crafted in just the manner the winemaker intended. Most Albarino is around 11% - 12.5% ABV, and this one teters just above 13%, but it isn't a distraction at all. I think they've done a bang up job here and this wine is a winner! Score: 91 Full blog

The 2007 Estate Tempranillo from Abacela Vineyards & Winery is their 11th release. Decanted. Red-purple ink in the glass, the wine initially presents itself with very ripe blackberries and black cherries combined with Mediterranean spices. The palate presents warm and ripe black fruits, spices of sage, nutmeg and white pepper, and dried rose petal. There are great flavor separations going on here that eventually combine with refined tannins to create a structured and lingering wine. This wine can be enjoyed now or within the next 10 years. Score: 92 Full blog

Thanks to Jeff Lawson for taking the time to taste and review our wines!

Earl Jones only US panelist at Tempranillo Event

2011-05-07T22:23:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2011; After 500 years the Spanish are again invading the Americas! Well at least San Francisco and New York; their mission being, to promote Tempranillo wines from the world-famous Rioja wine growing region of Spain. Toward this end they held a series of tastings and seminars on their noble Tempranillo grape and wines in these cities.

Earl Jones, of Abacela Winery in Roseburg Oregon, was asked to join them in San Francisco. He was the only American producer invited to sit on the seminar’s prestigious five member panel of Spanish wine makers and wine journalists. The extensive “Vibrant Rioja” Seminar and Grand Tasting were both held at the Westin St. Francis hotel in San Francisco on Monday May 2, 2011.

In the early 1990's Earl and his wife Hilda pioneered the production of Tempranillo in America at their vineyards in southern Oregon's Umpqua Valley. Although late to arrive in the New World, this noble Spanish wine grape is now planted in 20 US states and Tempranillo wine is produced by over one hundred US wineries.

In the past decade Earl founded the Tempranillo Advocates, Producers, and Amigos Society (TAPAS) and served three terms as president of this national trade organization. Today TAPAS, with over 100 members in several states, is actively promoting and educating Americans about domestically produced wines from Tempranillo, Albariño, Garnacha and other winegrapes and wine styles native to Spain and Portugal.

Vine & Wine Center nears completion!

2011-04-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

Abacela's new Vine and Wine center nears completion

Reported by: David Anderson

Email: davidanderson@kmtr.com

ROSEBURG (KMTR) They're calling it Abacela's Vine and Wine Center, a four thousand square foot tasting room and wine vault right in the middle of the vineyard. Right now it's under construction, but they say the new place will offer more space for tasting and an interactive experience.

In it, they'll hold presentations on how wine is made from start to finish. Abacela says their unique location with the addition of the new Vine and Wine Center create a more comprehensive package for those looking to learn more about the wine they make.

“It's difficult to find a place were they grow grapes that grow in a fairly cool-ish climate with places that really need to be quite warm. Now we can show all of that right here so you can taste it in your glass and see it with your eyes.

The building will be green as well. It uses a geothermal heating system that heats the room from the ground up. In the summer high windows let heat escape without having to turn on a fan or air conditioning.

The new building will even feature a tunnel where vintage wine can be stored and tasted. Several private tasting rooms will also be added. The center will host a grand opening Saturday may 14th.For more information on the event you can visit www.Abacela.com.

Vibrant Rioja Announces 3rd Annual Rioja Grand Tasting Events

2011-04-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

"The Heart of Tempranillo" Pours Into New York and San Francisco Next Month

Published Wednesday, Apr. 20, 2011

NEW YORK, April 20, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- The king of Rioja grapes, “Tempranillo," will take center stage during Vibrant Rioja's 3rd Annual Grand Tasting events on May 2 in San Francisco and May 5 in New York. An exploration of the versatile range of Rioja Tempranillo, these tasting events will give press and trade guests the opportunity to sample more than 350 Riojas from 70 importers, the most comprehensive showcase of wines from the region in the U.S.

“Our 2011 Grand Tasting’s focus is on Tempranillo, a varietal that is increasingly popular in the U.S. because of its consummate versatility, high quality and pairing ability with a wide range of foods,” says Pablo Olay, the Vibrant Rioja Campaign Director. “On our first visit to San Francisco and in New York, we are pleased to host seminars that explore the spectrum of style Tempranillo reaches in Rioja.”

The seminars, led by esteemed wine educator Marnie Old, will feature Cristina Forner, distinguished owner of Marques de Caceres; Diego Pinilla, budding winemaker at Bodegas Bilbainas; and Rafael Vivanco, visionary winemaker of Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco. Providing a local perspective, other panelists include Earl Jones, founder of TAPAS (and Abacela), the Tempranillo Advocates group in San Francisco, and Paul Grieco, co-owner and Wine Director of Hearth Restaurant and the Terroir Wine Bars in New York.

About Rioja
Located in north central Spain, Rioja is considered one of the greatest red wine regions of the world. Rioja reds are blended predominantly with the indigenous tempranillo grape from one of the region’s three subzones— Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja, and Rioja Alavesa. The DOCa of Rioja administers highly sophisticated and stringent quality control in the winemaking process, from viniculture to bottling. More than 200 brands from Rioja are available for purchase in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.vibrantrioja.com.
Trade and media: Sign up for the 2011 Vibrant Rioja Grand Tasting events here.

A great blog everyone should check out, not just Tempranillo lovers!

2011-03-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

We love this new blog post from someone who received a bottle of our 2007 Tempranillo Cuvee from a family member.

A Gift of Domestic Tempranillo - Abacela

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The story: I find that relationships in life are all over the map. There are those friendships that seem to require just a little more effort than others, and those that are just easy and fulfilling no matter what life brings. There are family relationships that overflow with support, encouraging a relaxed and balanced interaction, and those that you are happy to engage a couple of times a year at holidays only. But I hope for your sake that you have at least a couple of relationships like I have with my aunts. These women have been around since, well as far as I'm concerned since forever. They are the type of people that make you know they love you no matter what, and can pick up where you left off even if the communication has been neglected a bit since last Christmas. My aunts are always authentically interested in my life, and have been supportive and accepting of all directions I may take up.

My Aunt C in particular has taken an interest in this blog, which really means a lot to me (despite the jokes that only family members are reading, most of my family is not that interested). She recently visited a winery in her hometown and sent me a bottle knowing I would be intrigued by what they are doing in Southern Oregon. These are the kinds of gestures that throughout my life have made me feel so comfortable in this relationship. It is exactly the type of uncle I want to be to my nieces and nephews, and has always been an important part of my life. Thank you Aunt C!!

The wine: The wine is a fascinating story of grape growers who were so enamored with the wines of Rioja and Ribera del Duero that they searched the US for a comparable spot to grow great tempranillo. They found Southern Oregon and were amazed at the similarities in geography and weather. Hence in the 1990s they purchased Fault Line Vineyards in Roseburg, OR and started Abacela. Focusing on tempranillo, Abacela also grows albarino with some critical success, in addition to syrah, malbec, garnacha, and viognier. My aunt sent me the 2007 Tempranillo Cuvee which poured a dark maroon with beautifully ruby edges. The nose was very pretty, full of cherry and some vanilla oakiness but also sporting a bit of gaminess reminescent of beef jerky. The palette was like cherry liquer fading to a higher toned cranberry finish that included earth and roasted coffee notes. The finish was lengthy, may be a bit sour to some, and showed a touch of the 14.1% alcohol by volume.

The verdict: I love the obvious daring that Abacela put into its operation. No one goes out seeking a Southern Oregon tempranillo at this point, and that may make it hard to sell the product, no matter how good it is. However many in the wine world are starting to become aware of how successful this little winery is doing this varietal. The wine was delicious, and while not every piece came together seamlessly it was a nice wine to pair up with the roast chicken that happened to be on the table the night it was opened. While the 2007 is sold out, the 2008 is available (with a bit of higher score from Paul Gregutt if you care about that) and at $20 this is really an interesting wine. The higher level wines are also receiving attention as of late and may be worth your time and money.

I always say that wine is only worth the people and experience that it enhances, so thanks again Aunt C. Your interest and support have always meant something to me, whether I say it often enough or not.

Abacela featured in Mendez Musings Blog

2011-02-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Mendez
Entrepreneur.
Consultant.
Sommelier.

Abacela's 2009 Albariño and 2005 Tempranilllo Reserve have been showcased in a new blog post by Elizabeth Mendez. Hailing from the Chicago area, she recently sat down to taste and review our wines. Here is an excerpt from her blog titled "Our Own Backyard":

"One winery showcasing the serious capability of Albariño and Tempranillo is Abacela and while this family run winery is delving into the heart of Spanish wine, they are doing it without a heavy hand. Tempranillo is the gilded gem grape of reds in Spain; many of which are dominated with the characteristic trait of big American oak, but that is not the case with Abacela. The dominant use of French oak with Tempranillo allows for Abacela to show the shining potential Tempranillo actually has in this little patch of place in southern Oregon. If Tempranillo is king, Albariño is the reigning queen of white wines from Spain. Abacela shows this queen can be quite the princess in the New World, with all the crisp acidity but bigger on fruit than those wines from the motherland."

Read the full blog at Mendez Musings

Abacela's Port: News Review's Pick for Valentine's Day Celebration

2011-02-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

These a just a few excerpts from Diane Clerhiue-Smiths' article profiling port-style wines made here in the Umpqua Valley including our 2007 Estate Grown Port.

February is a month in which thoughts often turn to chocolate,

and Roseburg's Diane Clerihue-Smith enjoys pairing the dark

treat with port. Courtesy photo by H. Bruce Smith

Perfect port & pairings of love

For those who truly love great tastes, matching up chocolate delights and port wine can make you think you've gone to heaven

by Diane Clerihue-Smith
For The News Review, Sunday, February 6, 2011

Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day better than chocolate. And nothing pairs better with chocolate than port.

The two are a match made in heaven and very appropriate in any celebration of love. For chocolate lovers, pairing port with their favorite chocolate dessert takes the end of a meal to a whole new level.

(excerpt)

Abacela's port is made in a very traditional style. The winery uses Portuguese varietals grown it its own vineyard to make he port, including Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Bastardeo, Tinat Amarela and tinta Cao. The port is a full-bodied wine with heady aromas of blackberry, figs, cocoa and toast. The beautifully integrated black fruit and chocolate flavors come together in your mouth. The finish is long and satisfying.

Abacela Winery has been producing a port since 1999 and its adherence to the Portuguese tradition of port making has afforded it high praise from some of the top port producers in Portugal.

(excerpt)

For all of us lucky enought ot live in the is amazing place and who appreciate wine, being able to enjoy local port-style wines made right here in the Umpqua Valley just gives us one more reason to celebrate. And what better time to do that than this Valnetine's Day?
Cheers!

These a just a few excerpts from Diane Clerhiue-Smiths' article profinling port-style wines form the Umpqua Valley. Full article

2010 Organization of the Year: Southern Oregon Wine Institute

2010-12-31T16:50:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Umpqua Community College's Southern Oregon Wine Institute being named Oregon Wine Press' 2010 Organization of the Year!
Abacela supports the growth and education of the wine industry in the Umpqua Valley and Southern Oregon. The viticulture and enology students are the first step to that growth!
Full Article

2009 Albarino wins Platinum from Wine Press Northwest

2010-12-30T16:02:00.000-08:00

Wine Press Northwest Platinum Judging

Owner Earl Jones was among the first in the Northwest to grow and make wine from this racy Spanish white grape, and he remains one of the best. Albarino is know for its steely acidity and bright purity of fruit, and this is an impressive example - as good as any from Galicia, remarked one of our judges. Its aromas reveal minerality and citrus, while the palate gives way to flavors of lime, tropical fruit and crisp apple. A pairing with crab dip will be heavenly. Won gold at the Riverside International Wine Competition.

Field Trip to Abacela

2010-09-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Bates 1st grade class from Lookingglass Elementary visited Abacela for their 15th annual vineyard tour on Wednesday. This tradition started when Earl and Hilda's youngest was in Ms. Bates class and now 15 years later they still get excited to host the tour.

"It is so fun to introduce the students to scientific observation and after the tour do a definitive grape (not wine) tasting," Hilda commented. Each year the students are challenged to use their senses and observe everything around them. For example, they visually compare grape cluster colors and sizes. They get to see the weather station and learn what a wind sock is and how it works with the anemometer as well as the drip irrigation lines and raptor houses for the kestrels and owls. Then they get to go down the experimental vine spacing rows to see how when the grape plants are spaced farther apart the trunks grow bigger. Finally, they get to use their taste buds to determine which grape they think tastes the best. This year Thompson seedless, Red Flame, Suffolk red, and a Syrah grape were all contestants in the tasting. Each child gets to vote and this year the Red Flame won.

Hilda predicts, "We may have some future winemakers in this group."

Wings and Wine Gala

2010-09-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

Klamath Bird Observatory is celebrating 10 years of conservation at their 3rd annual Wings and Wine Gala this Saturday, September 25th from 6-10 p.m. at the historic Hanley Farm in Central Point.

There will be complimentary wine tasting from seven regional producers (including us), beer from local brewers, small bites by Helena Darling Fine Catering, a not-so-silent auction, and live music by Siskiyou Summit. This year's celebration will also debut a Best of the Bioregion Wine Competition.

Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door. You can purchase them at Northwest Nature Shop in Ashland, Wild Birds Unlimited in Medford or by phone at 541.201.0866.

About the Klamath Bird Observatory:
Built on two decades of efforts in the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion of southern Oregon and northern California, KBO is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing bird and habitat conservation through science, education and partnerships. KBO's work focuses in this bioregion, renowned for its outstanding biological diversity. For more information, visit http://www.klamathbird.org/.

Three 90+ wines in Wine Enthusiast

2010-09-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Great news in the October issue of Wine Enthusiast. We were the only winery to have three wines rated in the 90s, with our Blanco Dulce receiving a 94 points, the highest rated white wine reviewed!

Food Pairing with Tempranillo

2010-09-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

Tempranillo wines are perhaps one of the most food-friendly wines around. Why? Because of their bright fruit and earthy flavors, firm tannins and balanced acid levels.

We have approximately 20 acres of Tempranillo planted at our Estate vineyards producing 3-5 various styles of Tempranillo each year. This past week our 2008 Tempranillo, a lighter, less tannic style of Tempranillo, was released in our Tasting Room. For fuller-bodied styles try our 2006 Estate and 2005 Reserve Tempranillos. Both styles lend themselves perfectly to food pairing. Here are some food pairing suggestions for our signature varietal:

An easy tip to remember in food and wine pairing is that the food from the region typically compliments the wine from the region (e.i. sangiovese and spaghetti). The same goes for Tempranillo. It can hold up to Spanish style dishes (paella, tapas, chorizo) and other strongly flavored foods. Earl Jones discovered Tempranillo enhanced the spicy meats and peppery foods he enjoyed and that's how the dream of Abacela was started back in the 1960s.

Sheep farming is a major industry in the Rioja and Ribera del Diero regions of Spain. Roast lamb, along with sheep milk cheeses, are ideal accompaniments to Tempranillo.
The rugged, earthy character and fuller body make Tempranillo a natural for pairing with grilled items, from hamburger to steak.
Tempranillo is typically higher in tannins. Tannins are a plant plyphenol that comes from the skins, seeds and pips of the grapes. They can feel astringent when young in the mouth, but act as a preservative in the wine and mellow out over time. Tannins can cut through foods higher in fat like creamy mushroom risottos.

Enjoy!

Abacela makes the cover of Vineyard & Winery Management magazine!

2010-09-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

Cover Story - Vineyard & Winery Management: Abacela Winery- Putting tempranillo on the map
Our story of how we ended up in the Umpqua Valley pioneering Tempranillo planting in the United States is the most unique attribute of our winery. Years of scientific research as well as copious amounts of faith went into Earl and Hilda's decision, which is all captured so well in this new cover story by Paul Gregutt for Vineyard & Winery Management. Here are a few excerpts from the article:

"Starry-eyed newcomers setting out on a life-changing, Mission Impossible-type quest to make great wine are not unusual; the wine industry is full of such stories. But by any measure, Earl and Hilda Jones, owners of southern Oregon's Abacela Winery, set the bar about as high as anyone could."

""Many people find the list of wine grapes we grow at Abacela unusual, but we didn't follow fashion," Earl Jones said. "Rather, we selected the varieties based on whether their homes of origin share a similar climate to that at Abacela. Even after all this, it's not over when the plant is in the ground. We remove from production varieties that do not produce fine wines consistent with being produced at of near their marginally cool limits. Already we have removed a half-dozen experimental varieties and replaced them with others more suited to the site climate."

To read the FULL ARTICLE, click here.

Marveling from the [newly repositioned] Gazebo

2010-09-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

It would be too easy to say a picture is worth a thousand words in this case...

Recently we repositioned our gazebo to the top of our Syrah slope. It was not the easiest process to haul up the steep hillside- just ask Earl and the crew who worked about 24 hours inching it up and then creating a platform of huge stones. But, the end result is quite the reward.

In fact, not even a half an hour after the construction was completed, Hilda mentioned the addition to a visiting couple and with no hesitation they hiked on up there to enjoy a refreshing bottle of Albariño. We replicated their experience the moment work was done for the day. And you can see why:

Our Tasting Room is open daily from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., so there is plenty of time to enjoy the gazebo for yourself. Request a chilled bottle of Albariño or Grenache Rosé and enjoy our vineyard views!

World of Wine Festival

2010-09-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was the World of Wine Festival in Gold Hill, OR. Both Earl and Alex were there pouring our Gold Medal winning 2008 Garnacha and our 2008 Dolcetto and 2009 Albariño.

Over 723 wine enthusiasts were in attendance tasting wines from over 40 Southern Oregon wineries, nibbling on food from local artisan producers, and enjoying music by One Horse Shy.

Thanks to all who came and tasted our wines!

Seattle's Sustainable Sommelier features Abacela wines and environmental efforts

2010-08-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from today's blog post by Sustainable Seattle featuring our winery:

More News from our Sustainable Sommelier

A recent trip to Southern Oregon brought me to visit quite a few of the plentiful wineries exploding in the Umpqua River Valley. I tasted quite a few great wines, but wanted to pass on three wineries to our readers who are really doing things the right way. Not only making great wine, but practicing sustainable farming and taking great care of the earth that supplies them with their grapes. Definitely worth a trip to visit. Or pick up a bottle from your favorite wine retailer, or ask them to procure one for you if they don't yet carry it.

ABACELA
I hold on for dear life as Earl Jones’ tractor careers along the steep grade of his Umpqua vineyards, and he explains to me why he and his wife decided to set up a winery in this little known corner of Southern Oregon:
He was sipping a phenomenal little Ribera del Duero (Spanish wine made from the Tempranillo grape) while eating chorizo cooked in a hormo—Spanish slow cooked stove –while in Spain on travels, when he suddenly became incredulous. “It is criminal for America to not produce a great Tempranillo!” he thought to himself, and thus the search was on.

It took almost ten years from that moment to the first planting of grape vines, but after researching sites throughout the US, he found a little spot of very hilly land in the Umpqua Valley that mimicked qualities of some of Spain’s top Tempranillo producing regions. He and Hilda set up about ten acres and slowly over the years, the winery has expanded and production now includes Tempranillo, Malbec, Garnacha, Dolcetto and Syrah for reds, and Albarino and Viognier for whites. They also make a lovely port style wine out of traditional Portuguese varietals like Tinto Roriz, Bastardo (my favorite name for a grape!), Tinta Cao and Touriga Nacional.

Earl and his wife’s backgrounds were in medicine, not winemaking. So the start of this new venture led them to both learn a lot about the geology and growing conditions of their little microclimate. The vineyard land sits on a fault line of the Juan de Fuca plate in between the Klamath and Oregon Coast Range mountains, and causes intense variety of soil types and steep hillsides. Blue schist and volcanic soils mix with jasper on the incredibly steep terrain. The challenge of growing grapes in such conditions has created the need for innovation as well as the replacement of many tillers on the tractor! Because dry farming is not possible on such a rocky site, they take extreme measures to conserve water use. They have developed a modified sprayed irrigation system that diversifies the water to the perimeters of the vine roots in order to spread the depth and increase tenacity of the vines in such rocky soil. He experiments with different clones of the Tempranillo variety, looking for those that will grow with the most ease to make great wines on the site, and plans for a clonal test vineyard are already underway alongside the plans for the newly expanding winery.

The viticultural practices are sustainable, though not certified, and Abacela joined LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology liveinc.org) this year. He works with the neighboring Wildlife Safari to obtain “zoo doo” as compost in trade for the pomace from the winery which is used in the elephant bedding materials.

Between the Fault Line and Chaotic Vineyards, Hilda works with orchard experts to help retain some of the property's extremely old apple and pear trees. This natural preserve within the vineyards also acts much like a biodynamic wineries “wild space” allowing various birds and wildlife to create homes and diversify the ecosystem.

Tasting Notes of some of my favorites:
Albarino 2009 – dominant peach flavors are enhanced by early removal of the North slopes leaves to allow full ripeness of the grapes. Great acidity and subtler mineral notes. Versatile white, especially with seafood—crab!
Garnacha 2008 – overwhelming fruit on the nose with lighter color and bright acids. Lighter bodied red for early in meal—seafood.
Tempranillo Reserve 2005 – really dark color, incredibly complex nose. Spice and chewy cherry and fruit leather with a velvety mid palate. Roast and braised meats, charcuterie and pork.

Read the full post.

Our Port visits Portugal!

2010-08-31T19:30:00.000-07:00

Port takes its name from the city of Oporto, Portugal, which is situated at the mouth of the 560-mile long Rio Douro or "River of Gold." Port became famous in 1678 after two Englishmen arrived in Lamego, a mountain town in the Douro Valley, and discovered the sweet, fortified concoction produced at a local monastery. The abbot of Lamego practice mutage, arresting the fermentation of his wines with brandy while sugar was still present. The Englishmen sent the wines home where the strength, richness and durability earned it wide popularity.

Our Port is crafted from the five traditional Douro wine grapes grown on our estate- Tempranillo, Bastardo, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Cáo and Touriga Naçional. It has been recognized by Wine Press Northwest as "Outstanding, one could call this the Northwest's most honest Port-style wine for a variety of reasons, starting with Earl Jones' adherence to Portuguese varieties..." and by Paul Gregutt saying, "I have not had a finer American version."

This picture was snapped today and it was so exciting to see our Port visiting its ancestry in the Douro:

Saúde! (sow-ooh-jee- cheers in Portuguese)

FIESTA like a Llanero!

2010-08-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

Although everyday seems like a "fiesta" here, once a year we make it a formal event by hosting our "Llaneros" Wine Club Fiesta. It is one of our most anticipated events of the year with our loyal members flocking in for a day of Spanish varietals, themed dinner and flamenco guitar and dancing.

This year's theme was "Under Construction" to commence the groundbreaking on our new Visitors' Center (more information coming soon). Our construction shirts were a big hit:

Before the official party started, our winemaker, Andrew Wenzl, held an exclusive comparative Tempranillo tasting. He guided a group of 20 members through a tasting of Tempanillos from Spain and our own Library selections.

This year we featured three dueling paellas, our very own along with two other guest chef's creations. And what would a fiesta be without plenty of tapas served?

Under the wine tent we made food and wine pairing suggestions as well as pouring some of our newest releases.

The dance troupe Sol Flamenco accompanied by Mark Taylor on guitar traveled all the way from Santa Rosa, California to perform riveting performances every hour.

And don't think Hilda was missing in on the action! She was busy giving guests tours of the winery from fruit processing to bottling. She was even revealing the new plans for the Visitors' Center.

"Llanero" (Ya-nAIR-o) is Spanish for ranger, someone who goes on patrol looking for things out of the ordinary (like great wine!). By becoming a Llanero you are always on patrol for newly released Abacela wines. Since many of our experimental varietal wines are of limited production, membership in our Wine Club ensures you the opportunity to try these wines first. You'll also receive significant wine discounts, our newsletter keeping you up-to-date on the happenings in the vineyard or around the winery, and of course invitations to our Wine Club events like our Fiesta. For more information, visit our Llanero page.

Abacela 2009 Albarino "Top Pick" in Sunset Magazine

2010-07-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

A wine fiesta

The West's hot new grapes are Spanish and just right for sipping now

by Sara Schneider, August 2010

Abacela 2009 Albariño

Ripe, golden apple and peach rounded out with a touch of almond and orchard blossoms.

Why it belongs in your fridge: This wine strikes a balance between crisp, refreshing citrus and aromatic stone fruit and blossoms - great for winding down a warm August afternoon.

Foods that make it taste even better: Seafood. If it ever sported a fin or a shell, it's the right pairing - shrimp, crab, scallops, halibut, sablefish... Try all of the above with lemony aioli or mint pesto. Don't let the summer get away without an Albariño-and-paella party (the wine loves mussels and saffron)

2010-07-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

A Tease of Spain Tonight

by Janet Eastman

(18. Jul, 2010)

One way to taste a refreshing Albarino wine is to join the crush and cigarette smoke of Spanish humanity at an authentic tapas bar, say on Diputacion Street in Bilbao. Wrestle your way to the wet mahogany counter, plant a foot on the bar railing above discarded napkins and toothpicks, grab the attention of the overworked bartender, use your high school Spanish to ask for a glass of mejor (better) wine and point at the pintxos that pique your interest: mini jamon sandwiches, Gildas (olives with anchovies) or for the more adventurous, morcilla (blood sausage) with cachuete (peanuts).

Another way is to join the fun at Tease Restaurant in Ashland tonight for a Spanish wine dinner with one of Southern Oregon’s most distinguished producers.

You’ll linger over calamari, chicken and veal, expertly paired with wines from Abacela, the much-celebrated Umpqua winery that long ago planted the distinctive grapevines of Northern Spain: Albarino, Garnache and Tempranillo.

The sit-down, five-course dinner in the seductively red-accented restaurant starts at 5:30 p.m. tonight and is priced at $65. Afterward, Tease owner Julie O’Dwyer promises tango. Ole!

Here’s tonight’s special offerings:

* First course: Calamari Dorati with a crisp 2009 Albarino
* Second course: Yuzu Fresa salad with a dry 2009 Grenache Rose (made from the Spanish Garnache grape)
* Third course: Pollo asado with a 2008 Garnache
* Fourth course: Osso Bucco Samfaina with a 2007 Tempranillo Cuvee
* Fifth course: Rustic queso and dulce plate with an aromatic 2009 Blanco Dulce

For more info: Tease Restaurant and Bar, 303 E. Main (on the corner of 2nd and Main), Ashland, Oregon 97520 (541) 488-1458, www.teaserestaurant.net

2009 Albarino named Wine of the Week by Wine Press Northwest

2010-06-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

Abacela 2009 Estate Albarino
Wine of the Week:
Tuesday, Jun. 29, 2010

Appellation: Umpqua Valley

Earl Jones continues to commit more acreage to this Iberian variety, and his team delivers a big victory. By eschewing oak, winemaker Andrew Wenzl allows for a cross-current of fruit to gush, and the amazingly complex aroma profile includes quince, dusty apple, Circus Peanut candy, orange and pineapple. Of course the annual hallmark of this wine is its bracing acidity and flaky minerality on the entry. And yet there's peach, pineapple, apple and French vanilla flavors and a remarkable lemon cream in the farewell. Rated "Outstanding" by Wine Press Northwest magazine.

Price: $18.

Cases produced: 1,148 cases.

Food matches: Pair with crab dip, chicken pico de gallo or seared scallops.

Wine Press Northwest Reveiws

2010-06-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

Wine Press Northwest recently reviewed the following wines in their Summer 2010 issue:
Abacela 2007 Malbec
Outstanding: Fanfare continues to grow for this minor Bordeaux variety, and many may not know that Earl Jones was one of the first in the Northwest to bottle Malbec on its own. This ranks among the best - and least expensive. There's still some adolescent to its nose with plums, cassis, blackberry, cherry cola, vanilla and fresh fig. Dark fruit plies its way to the smooth and balanced palate, joined by Montmorency cherry acidity and some crushed leaf. Chocolaty tannins give it length. (380 cases, 13.6% alc.)

Abacela 2008 Estate Dolcetto
Excellent: Here marked Andrew Wenzl's first vintage as head winemaker at Abacela, so this bodes well for the future. Black cherry, red currant, blueberry and Italian herb aromas lead to blueberries and more currants in the tongue-coating drink. The preservation of acidity and minor influence of oak make it very lively and rather Italian. (281 cases, 12.9% alc.)

Abacela 2009 Estate Viognier
Excellent: One of the first grapes to come off the Fault Line Vineyards reaps quick rewards. Orange Creamsicle, dusty apple, orchard blossom and lots of river rock notes fill the nose. Huge complexity awaits the drinker with Asian pear, jasmine and lemon curd flavors. For this variety, there's a remarkable amount of acidity and some orange pith bitterness in the finish. Thankfully, its screwcap should hold this still for a couple of years. (295 cases, 14.5% alc.)

Abacela 2007 Cabernet Franc
Recommended: True to the variety, it's cassis and plum with underlying tobacco leaf, pencil lead and green peppercorn aromas. It's plumy, cherry and chalky on the palate with leather notes in the background and blueberry tartness. (251 cases, 14.3% alc.)

Abacela 2009 Estate Albarino
Outstanding: Earl Jones continues to commit more acreage to this Iberian variety, and his team delivers a big victory. By eschewing oak, winemaker Andrew Wenzl allows for a cross-current of fruit to gush, and the amazingly complex aroma profile includes quince, dusty apple, Circus Peanut candy, orange and pineapple. Of course the annual hallmark of this wine is its bracing acidity and flaky minerality on the entry. And yet there's peach, pineapple, apple and French vanilla flavors and a remarkable lemon cream in the farewell. (1,148 cases, 13.6% alc.)

Abacela 2009 Estate Grenache Rose
Excellent: Particular blocks are targeted for this pink and perfumy sipper that opens with pomegranate, Rainier cherry, persimmon, cinnamon and vanilla aromas. Boysenberries and citrus spill onto the palate with bright acidity and a resumption of the pomegranate and cherry. There's no show of tannin, making this quite quaffable, with a bite of Cameo apple in the finish. (289 cases, 13.2% alc.)

Abacela 2007 Estate Port
Outstanding: One could call this the Northwest's most honest Port-style wine for a variety of reasons, starting with Earl Jones' adherence to Portuguese varieties Tempranillo (53%), Bastardo (19%), Tinta Amarela (13%), Tinta Cáo (9%) and Touriga Naçional (6%). The experience opens with mature aromas of blueberry, black cherry and dark toast. Fruit, oak and alcohol already are adroitly integrated on the palate with rich blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and Belgian chocolate flavors. And this is doubled the production of the 2006 vintage. (514 cases, 19% alc.)

Abacela 2009 Blanco Dulce
Recommended: Winemaker Andrew Wenzl used estate Viognier to craft this delicious dessert wine, one of the youngest in the competition. It opens with aromas of poached pears and vanilla, followed by rich flavors of apples, pears and honey. The 15% residual sugar is backed with good acidity. (16.9% alc., 91 cases)

Abacela at World of Wine Festival

2010-06-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

The World of Wine Festival is Southern Oregon’s premier wine event showcasing the outstanding wines made exclusively with Southern Oregon grapes. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, August 28th from 5-9 p.m. at Del Rio Vineyards in Gold Hill.

In its eighth year, World of Wine highlights the expertise of local wine grape growers and the creativity of regional winemakers. Over forty wineries, including ours, will be in attendance pouring wines to pair with a delicious array of gourmet foods prepared by local artisan producers and renowned restaurants.

A professional judged wine competition will also take place before the festival with medalists announced just in time to taste at the event.

Tickets are $75 and available at www.worldofwinefestival.com or at Del Rio Vineyards, RoxyAnn Winery, Elegance Fine Wines, Schmidt Family Vineyards and Pacific Wine Club.

Come sip your way through our wonderful region!

Abacela to pour at TAPAS event in San Francisco

2010-06-03T13:25:00.001-07:00

TAPAS Third Annual Grand Tasting

The most extensive annual tasting of domestically produced Spanish and Portuguese varietal wines in North America will take place this year at the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA.

On Saturday, June 5, 2010, wine writers, retailers, distributors, and consumers will have an opportunity to taste wines produced by TAPAS members from grape varieties indigenous to Spain and Portugal that are now cultivated in America, in a delightful walk-around setting where they may chat with the TAPAS growers and producers.

Fort Mason Center
Herbst Pavilion
San Francisco, CA

Another 2009 Grenache Rose write up!

2010-05-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

Abacela Winery 2009 Grenache Rosé
Annette Solomon, Statesman Journal, May 27, 2010
This polished, young rosé offers a mélange of aromas backed by a well-balanced structure. The seductive flavors include lush strawberry, raspberry, walnut, cream and violet.

— Annette Solomon

Abacela featured in Register Guard Article

2010-05-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Oregon’s finest vinos de España
By Paul Omundson, The Register Guard, May 26, 2010

At Abacela Winery, in a Rioja-like climate, Earl and Hilda Jones coax lauded Oregon wines from traditional Spanish varietals.

It’s a dream of all wine aficionados — go from rank amateur to world-renowned winemaker in the wink of an eye. Well, it happened to Earl Jones and his wife, Hilda, who own Abacela Winery near Roseburg. They are pioneers in developing Spain’s flagship wine, tempranillo, and many other Spanish varietals on American soil.

Nobody had seen these warm-weather grapes in Oregon before the couple started building their vineyards in 1994 and planted their first grapes in 1995. Jones laughs when he recalls one neighbor thinking tempranillo meant “temporary,” and that Jones was just killing time until he planted the “real” vines.

Jones made his first tempranillo in 1997, and his second wine (1998) became the first American tempranillo to best the Spanish in international wine competition, taking a double gold medal and defeating 19 Spanish masters at their own game at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

The accolades have continued ever since. Last year, the 2005 Abacela Reserve Tempranillo won America’s first Medalla de Oro for a varietal tempranillo in Spain’s own Tempranillos Al Mundo competition. Jones also was named the 2009 Oregon Vintner of the Year by Portland’s Classic Wine Auction.

Jones, the granddaddy of tempranillo to his peers, was the founding president of the Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS), a national trade organization for which he is currently a director. Abacela also is one of just a handful of Oregon wineries to earn ratings of 95 points or higher from Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator magazines.

Wine Business Monthly, in its February 2010 issue, recognized Abacela as one of 10 hot small brands for 2009. Jones considers this his highest honor, and it’s heady praise for a former physician, scientist and educator who never made a drop of wine before that first 1997 foray.

Tastes of Spain

The Joneses had traveled extensively throughout Europe, giving lectures and attending symposiums. While making the academic circuit, they fell head over heels in love with Spanish wine.

“We enjoyed all the wines on the continent,” Earl Jones says. “But what really struck us was the wine/food pairings in Spain and the culture of Castile. Hilda and I grew especially fond of their unique concept of tapas. At the day’s end, it seemed so remarkably civilized to sit down with friends and enjoy a small glass of wine paired with a harmonizing portion of food.”

His favorite Spanish reds are from the Rioja and Ribera Del Duero regions in central Spain. “I love all good wines, but the wines from these two regions simply hold up better than French and Italian wines in food pairings,” he adds. “I didn’t know the varieties they were made from because Spanish wine labels provide area of origin but not information on the wine grapes. But I discovered the principal grape used to produce Rioja and Ribera Del Duero wines was tempranillo.”

This variety of black grape, known as Spain’s “noble” grape, is grown to produce full-bodied red wines. Its name is the diminutive of the Spanish temprano (early), a reference to the fact that it ripens several weeks before most Spanish grapes.

Based on their glorious experience in Central Spain, the Joneses decided to take on a major mid-life career challenge and plunge into the art and science of making fine wine. No matter that they had no previous experience. “We were rank amateurs with a passion for good wine,” Jones laughs.

It was an intriguing challenge they couldn’t resist.

“We admired what the Spanish were doing so much. But nothing was being done with that grape in America,” Jones says. “It was like, ‘There’s the mountain — can we climb it?’”

Indeed they did. “And growing tempranillo in the right climate was the key,” Jones emphasizes. “We noted the 19th and 20th century attempts to grow it in the central valley of California where the grape was only adequate for production of bulk, or ‘jug’ wine quality. We believe quality suffered because the growing season was too long making it too hot during harvest.”

But Oregon? Who’d figure that?

Latitudinal likeness

With the passion for science and the meticulous details a researcher must embrace, Jones went about seeking the ideal spot for growing tempranillo on U.S. soil. He used extensive data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other resources to match the climate of the two Spanish regions that grew the best grapes. All the data pointed to Southwest Oregon.

Jones hired a pilot to fly him over the region in a small plane, then drove around the area in his car with topographic maps and talked to locals about weather and geography. Most valuable was input from local pilots who knew the cloud patterns intimately.

The best match turned out to be south of Roseburg. And it doesn’t sound so crazy when one realizes its latitude is the same as Rioja and Ribera Del Duero, those prime areas in Spain for growing the best tempranillo grapes. The climate is characterized by a cool spring, a dry and hot summer, and a cool early autumn. Low growing-season rainfall and mild winters further defined the climate, making it ideal.

“This was it,” Jones says. “We thought we could grow great grapes here. Without great fruit you can’t make great wine.”

Since he first planted tempranillo, Jones has expanded Abacela into a 75-acre vineyard growing more than 20 varieties of grapes, and a winery producing an array of award-winning wines, many of which are Pacific Northwest firsts.

His crown jewel, of course, remains tempranillo, but Jones always experiments and produces a number of other notable warm-weather wines that Oregonians might consider unusual.

Jones touts his “latest,” albariño, a white varietal he calls “the best seafood wine, period!” His 2009 albariño took the silver medal in class at the 2010 Pacific Rim Wine Competition. (+ Gold Medal at the 2010 Riverside International Wine Compeititon)

Other unusual varietals produced at Abacela include tannat, dolcetto, garnacha (grenache), malbec, syrah and viognier.

Abacela’s tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The vineyard and winery are located at 12500 Lookingglass Road, about 6 miles west of I-5 Exit 119 south of Roseburg.

Abacela article in The Spokesman-Review

2010-05-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Oregon winery thrives on focused approach
Paul Gregutt, The Spokesman-Review, May 26, 2010

My general advice to small, startup wineries is to focus. Make something your calling card. Don’t try to make 30 different wines until you’ve figured out how to do three or four well.

Abacela, located in southern Oregon, is a fine example of a winery that started with a specific focus, built on it and now offers a breathtakingly large lineup of estate-grown blends and varietals, including some never before seen in the Northwest.

Owners Earl and Hilda Jones set out to find the optimal growing conditions for a single grape: tempranillo. Using a strict scientific, climate- and soil-driven approach, they settled (to their surprise, as much as anyone’s) on the Umpqua Valley.

The region, they contend, “has the most beneficial climate structure for growing grapes in the state … the longest growing season, the lowest risk of both spring and fall frosts, and low-ripening period rainfall and temperature extremes. The region is warmer than the Willamette Valley to the north, but cooler than the Rogue Valley to the south.”

On a hilltop site just outside of Roseberg, Ore., surrounded by three mountain ranges, with a massive fault line running through the heart of the property, they planted.

The Fault Line vineyards, Earl Jones explains, fall into “two distinct provinces. To the south lie boulder-strewn loamy soils derived from ancient Cretaceous to Jurassic bedrock, while on the north are sandy cobbled soils derived from comparatively youthful seafloor sediments.

“Some geologists have speculated that the soils of these steep cobbled hills were created by uplift about 25,000 years ago – just before Mount Mazama erupted to form Crater Lake. It is truly remarkable to think that the age of soils found feet apart on the north and south of a line could differ by as much as 224,975,000 years.”

Abacela’s vineyards were first planted in 1995 and the tempranillos were good from the start. Over the past 15 years the vines have matured, and there are now multiple versions bottled, including a reserve, and even some single vineyard wines from neighboring growers.

Along with tempranillo, Abacela has introduced a whole range of Iberian varietal wines, and co-founded an organization called T.A.P.A.S. – Tempranillo Advocates Producers and Amigos Society ( www.tapasociety.org).

T.A.P.A.S. has its own Facebook page and sponsors an annual tasting (coming up June 5 in San Francisco) of Spanish and Portuguese varietals from Arizona, California, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Abacela alone makes albariño, garnacha (grenache), five different tempranillos and a Port-style dessert wine blended from authentic Portuguese varietals, all estate-grown.

In addition there are southern French and Italian varietal wines – cabernet franc, Dolcetto, malbec, merlot, petit verdot, several syrahs and a viognier – and a number of blends, including an excellent claret.

Too many choices? Well, for most wineries this would be a stretch, but Abacela keeps the quality high, the prices reasonable and the uniqueness factor in play. Among the current releases, here are some highlights:

Abacela 2009 Albariño ($18) – Captures the racy minerality of the Spanish grape, while amping it up to New World fruit standards. You get fruit-powered richness, with citrus and peach, along with lively acidity and a steely core.

Abacela 2009 Viognier ($20) – A dense, mineral-driven style, layered with citrus skins and fruits, notably grapefruit and pineapple. There’s even a finishing lick of honey, though the wine is quite dry.

Abacela 2009 Grenache Rosé ($14) – Quite dry, with lovely fruit character that brings an impression of fruit sweetness. Fresh and tangy, with a mix of cranberry and cherry flavors, it’s a perfect summer sipper.

Abacela 2008 Garnacha ($22) – The blend includes tempranillo, malbec and a splash of syrah. Cranberry fruit and lemony acidity, with some firm tannins.

Abacela 2007 Malbec ($22) – Its exotic scents immediately fascinate, weaving together incense, smoke, wild berry, baking spices and plum jam. The wine retains a delicacy and lightness, and showcases the fruit rather than barrels.

Abacela 2006 Estate Syrah ($30) – Packed with blue and black fruits, flavors of smoked meat and fresh herb, it’s substantial but not overbearing. Give it some extra breathing time.

Abacela 2006 Estate Tempranillo ($35) – The 10th release, a multiple gold medal winner, savory and scented with cured meats. This is a spicy red that marries black currant fruit to pepper and more exotic spices: curry, cumin and five spice.

Abacela 2009 Blanco Dulce Viognier ($30/375ml) – This late harvest Viognier is so dense, so lush with aromas, that it almost defies description. Flowers, candied fruits, caramel, vanilla, English breakfast tea, even a bit of tobacco – this is one of those wines that just keeps on going. Fascinating, rich, yet vibrant with excellent acidity, this is a wine that any dessert wine lover should experience.

Abacela can now ship to Kansas!

2010-05-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that Abacela can now ship directly to Kansas residents for offsite purchases made via phone, email or web. We recently applied for and were granted a Direct Shipping License. Kansas residents may also join our Llaneros Wine Club. Please visit our website at: www.abacela.com

We look forward to sharing our wines with the residents of Kansas!

2009 Albarino in the Oregonian's 2010 Spring Wine Guide

2010-05-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

2010 Spring Wine Guide: Fine pours for picnics
The Oregonian, May 24, 2010
A picnic is our favorite way to break up a day of wine tasting. But what to drink? We chose some tempting takeout foods and asked four local wine pros to pair them with affordable Northwest wines: 2009 Albarino "Cured meat... begs for a refreshing, bracing white wine, and this albariño is just the thing." - Kimberly Paley, Paley's Place

2009 Viognier Reviewed...

2010-05-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

Cellar Dweller: A summery choice
Wed, 05/19/2010 - 5:55 pm By Matt Meador, The Vancouver Voice

Viognier is one of those wines that seems to bridge the gap between reds and whites, at least to some degree. Red-lovers are inclined to appreciate the dry acidity of Viogniers while white-o-philes can acknowledge its crisp hint of sweetness with more than a wry smile. Altogether, Viognier is one of those wines that can be enjoyed by wine lovers from both sides of the aisle.

The Abacela 2009 Viognier from Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley, released on May 1, is a grand example of just what Viognier is all about. They say that Viognier was introduced to the Rhône Valley in Roman times, but repeated invasions by bloodthirsty Huns and other undesirables drove it to near extinction. When the Romans left Gaul, which was really pre-France, the vines grew untended for many years until a handful of locals rediscovered them and began to recultivate them. What covered only a small number of acres in the 1960s has grown to be a very popular varietal in recent times, cultivated in France, Italy, Australia and the United States.

The Abacela 2009 Viognier presents a color of pale straw, crisply simple in the glass. For lack of a more appropriate word, the nose on the Abacela 2009 Viognier is simply gorgeous. Beginning with beguiling tendrils of pear, the nose blossoms into a cornucopia of stone fruit, exhibiting traits of pear, peach, apricot and apple along with seductive nuances of honey and the barest hint of vanilla. On the palate, the Abacela 2009 Viognier is loyal to its bouquet, introducing its characteristic fruits before subduing the taster with its dry acidity.

On the mid-palate stone fruits are framed by polite acidity but if you wait a moment, the ubiquitous honey reemerges to ease your palate into a delightful finish. Like the embers of a twilight fire, the Abacela 2009 Viognier’s finish is warm and reassuring, the acidity yielding to a lingering creamy finish that is mellow and perfectly suited to the wine’s defining character. I enjoyed this wine by the pool, warmed by the late afternoon sun and lost in thought. The Abacela 2009 Viognier was an engaging companion.

The Abacela 2009 Viognier retails for around $20 and is available at your favorite wine merchant or at www.abacela.com. Chill this wine to about 45 degrees Fahrenheit and allow it to warm slightly as it breathes before you pour. Serve it with poultry, pork or even lamb. Buy

2009 Albarino reviewed

2010-05-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

wine in the spotlight: abacela 2009 albariño
Paul Gregutt, paulgregutt.com, May 18, 2010

Beginning today, I’ll do an occasional profile of a single Northwest wine that is especially deserving of your attention. This is a great bottle to begin with...

I did a search on the Wine Enthusiast database to see if I’d reviewed any other albariños from the Pacific Northwest over the years. Didn’t expect to find any, and none were there, except for previous vintages from Abacela.

Just out (and already a gold medal winner) is the 2009. From the estate’s Fault Line Vineyards, this was harvested at 22.5° brix; pH 3.26; TA 7.11 grams/liter. The AVA is Umpqua Valley, and the cooperage was stainless steel all the way. In keeping with the times, the winery has dropped the price from $23 to $18, which means you can probably find it for $16 if you look around.

Winemaker tasting notes: “This Galician style wine exhibits aromas and flavors of crisp golden apples, citrus fruits, fleshy peach, almonds, and delicate white flowers all carried on a frame that skirts the razor's edge between creamy textures and steely minerality.”

My notes: “Estate-grown, this captures the racy minerality of the Spanish grape, while amping it up to New World fruit standards. So you get a fruit-powered richness, with citrus and peach, along with lively acidity and a steely core. The new vintage marks a big step forward for this varietal at Abacela.”

I don’t have back vintages to compare to this latest, but it’s just as well. The winery recommends drinking these wines within three years – “earlier if you seek crispness, later if you prefer greater complexity. Dungeness crab and oysters are each a beautiful pairing, but this wine will embrace any fresh seafood entrée.” As with almost any Albariño from Rías Baixas, I believe fresher is better.

You’ve got to love racy, high acid white wines in order to love this wine. I think it’s great to see such wines being made in Oregon, and not just pinot gris and the occasional unoaked chardonnay. Kudos to Abacela for all their pioneering work with Iberian varietals. Full blog

2009 Grenache Rose Review...

2010-05-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

Matt Kramer on wine: It's spring, and the rosés are in bloom
The Oregonian, May 15, 2010, 10:00AM

The time has arrived -- finally! -- for what might be called the first rosé of the season. Where previously (10 years ago) rosé wines were derided, today they are among the hottest categories in the wine business.

Wine producers love rosés because it's a low-overhead, high-profit wine. There's no expensive cellar aging or need for low yields in the vineyard, and the "palate demand" is nowhere near as exigent as it is for, say, pinot noir.

The downside for the producers is shelf life: Nobody wants last year's rosé. This makes producers, as well as wholesalers and retailers, wary of committing too much inventory to it. Once summer is over, so is the rosé season -- and rosé sales, too.

Abacela Grenache Rosé "Estate Grown" 2009 -- The tastiest rosés are made with grenache, a red grape variety notable for its intense, luscious cherry-scented fruitiness.

Spain has by far the world's largest vineyard acreage of grenache. Spain has 593,000 acres of grenache, more than all of California's wine grape plantings combined.

Knowing this Spanish dominance, it's not surprising to see a grenache rosé from southern Oregon's Abacela winery, which has, since its inception in the mid-1990s, devoted itself to Spanish grape varieties.

Abacela's 2009 grenache rosé is a superb example of just what grenache can do in a rosé style. It delivers all of the fruity goodness that one expects of a grenache rosé but with a delicacy and finesse rare among rosés.

Those who think (wrongly) that a rosé is a white wine dressed up in a pink party outfit will have to, er, drink their words after a single sip of this exceptional wine. Get it while you can. BUY

2009 Albarino wins Gold Medal

2010-05-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Our 2009 Estate Grown Albarino has won a Gold Medal at the 2010 Riverside International Wine Competition. We think the 2009 vintage is a great bottle, and it's only fitting that it win Gold after being released less than two months! Enjoy a glass today...

Abacela has planted a garden!

2010-05-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Abacela has always sourced local produce, cheese, bread, meats and chocolates in an effort to support the local farmers and artisans. To that end, we have finally planted an extensive garden. From tomatoes to corn, lettuce to kohlrabi, and peas to brussel sprouts, our winery events will be even more focused on what we grow and produce here at Abacela. The garden is located between our oldest vineyard, Cox's Rock, and our newest planting, Esperanza Block.

TAPAS Grand Tasting

2010-05-06T10:26:00.001-07:00

TAPAS Third Annual Grand Tasting

The most extensive annual tasting of domestically produced Spanish and Portuguese varietal wines in North America will take place this year at the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA.

On Saturday, June 5, 2010, wine writers, retailers, distributors, and consumers will have an opportunity to taste wines produced by TAPAS members from grape varieties indigenous to Spain and Portugal that are now cultivated in America, in a delightful walk-around setting where they may chat with the TAPAS growers and producers. Tickets

June 5, 2010
2:00 to 5:00 PM
Fort Mason Center
Herbst Pavilion
San Francisco, CA

Abacela completes Carbon Neutral Challenge

2010-04-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

Roseburg, OR – April 27, 2010: In 2007 the Oregon Environmental Council and the Oregon Wine Board joined together to lead an initiative for Oregon wineries and vineyards to assess and reduce their carbon footprint, with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral. Fourteen Oregon wineries participating in the Carbon Neutral Challenge have completed their first year of the carbon neutral program.

This is a unique effort of businesses working voluntarily to reduce their carbon footprint, and the largest effort within the wine industry in the United States. Oregon wineries and vineyards – many of which have already adopted sustainable agricultural practices into their operations – recognize that climate change will have a significant impact on their ability to grow grapes and produce quality wines.

While the state’s wine industry is not a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions, it is directly impacted by climate change. The wine industry is the “canary in the coal mine” for climate change. By completing the first year of the initiative, these wine industry leaders are demonstrating the important role businesses play in reducing carbon emissions and providing leadership within the wine industry and beyond.

Fourteen wineries and vineyards have completed the carbon neutral program for 2009 and invested in a regional, verifiable offset. These are: Abacela , Adelsheim Vineyard, A to Z Wineworks/REX HILL, Chehalem , Cooper Mountain Vineyards, King Estate Winery, Left Coast Cellars, Lemelson Vineyards, Mahonia Vineyards, Sokol Blosser Winery, Soter Vineyards, Stoller Vineyards, Willamette Valley Vineyards, and Winderlea Wine Company. http://industry.oregonwine.org/

Earl Jones to pour at Mondo Vino in Denver

2010-04-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

Earl Jones will be pouring his wines at Mondo Vino in Denver, Colorado on April 23rd from 3:30 to 7:00 pm. Earl pioneered Iberian varietals, specifically Tempranillo and Albarino, in the Pacific Northwest. Stop by and taste the wines and learn about Abacela's unique history.

3601 W 32nd Ave, Denver, (303) 458-3858

Abacela and the Portland Opera

2010-04-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

Abacela is a proud sponsor of the Portland Opera's Camerata Circle!
Earl & Hilda Jones enjoyed a fabulous dinner last night (April 15th) at the Benson Hotel's Mayfair Room in Portland celebrating the upcoming opening of the Barber of Seville on May 7th. Over 150 guests enjoyed operatic vignettes and classic Andalusian cuisine paired with Abacela's 2008 Abariño and 2005 "South East, Angle, and Knoll Block Reserve" Tempranillo. See the opera

Abacela's 2007 Port Reviewed...

2010-04-16T09:24:00.001-07:00

By Paul Gregutt (www.paulgregutt.com)

...As it happens, Abacela – an Oregon winery specializing in Iberian varietal wines – makes both a Claret and a Port, and both are quite good. The 2007 Abacela Port, which I sipped on throughout a long evening of guitar playing last night, is the poster child for a truly outstanding American Port. It’s labeled Port, which may be due to 1) label approval before the new law took effect or 2) being grandfathered in, as some Claret producers are. In any event, it’s a wine that any Port lover should experience, for I have not had a finer American version.

The estate-grown blend includes 53% Tempranillo, 19% Bastardo, 13% Tinta Amarela, 9% Tinta Cão, and 6% Touriga Naçional. These five traditional Douro grapes were grown at Abacela’s Fault Line vineyards. I don’t know what neutral spirits were used, but they are of a higher quality than most, with none of the burn that affects a lot of domestic fortifieds. This is a creamy, sexy, chocolate and raspberry wine, which does not stop there, but keeps invigorating the palate with cascading flavors of figs, berries, raisins, plums, cocoa, mocha, dark chocolate and earth. It’s seductive as hell, and I had to fight my desire to drink the entire (half) bottle – mostly because I want to see if it opens up still further with a day or two of breathing time.

Full Review

Vintner's Blend #10 Reviewed...

2010-04-15T13:08:00.001-07:00

"Get out of that taste rut with these originals." by Matt Kramer, The Oregonian, Sunday April 11, 2010

Abacela "Southern Oregon" Vintner's Blend #10 Red Table Wine: Various wines from Abacela winery in Roseburg have appeared in this space numerous times over the years. The reason is simple: Abacela makes terrific wines with grape varieties that other in Oregon never previously pursued.

Most of these exploratory varieties were Spanish grapes such as tempranillo and albariño. But Abacela also planted grapes that other in southern Oregon were already tinkering with, such as syrah, malbec, grenache, cabernet franc and viognier.

Abacela regularly purchases grapes from its southern Oregon colleagues. And that, in effect, is the story of its annual bottling designated Vintner's Blend red table wine. This latest version, Vintner's Blend #10, is sourced from five vineyards in addition to Abacela's own plantings: Alta Seca Vineyard, Delfino Vineyard, McCorquodale Vineyard and Pheasant Hill Vineyard.

This red table wine is composed of a boggling 14 grape varieties: tempranillo (39 percent), syrah (16 percent), merlot (10 percent), cabernet sauvignon (9 percent), petit verdot (5.5 percent) and minor amounts of graciano, cabernet franc, dolcetto, malbec, viognier, tannat, mourvédre, albariño and grenache.

Too often, such wildly disparate assemblages result in a wine of no real character. Such blends can be muddy-tasting and lack flavor focus. That's not the case here.

Abacela "Southern Oregon" Vintner's Blend #10 Red Table Wine (which does not show a vintage, by the way) is a ripe-tasting, rich red with the bright focused spiciness and refreshing acidity of tempranillo enhanced- rather than diminished- by the addition of all those other varieties.

This is a red wine that fairly begs for hearty, robust foods such as bean stews, chili, grilled meats, sausages and the like. Also, it will surely benefit from additional bottle age as the fruitiness of this red is substantial and still quite youthful. Worth noting is that this freshness is enhanced by the use of a screwcap closure.

At $15.95 a bottle, this is an outstanding deal in flat-out good red wine of real character with not a shred of pretension.

Earl pouring at Pour at Four in Tacoma

2010-04-07T12:06:00.001-07:00

Umpqua In The House: Earl "Don't Call Me James" Jones, owner of Abacela Winery in the Umpqua Valley of Oregon, will pour complimentary tastes of the fruits of his labor Tuesady April 6th from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Pour At Four in Tacoma.

Rastus found!

2010-04-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

Our winery dog Rastus went missing last night... we searched for hours in the pouring rain this morning. We went online about Noon and found a Craigslist posting that someone found him last night! We called and will get him back tonight. Yeesssss!

Bud Break at Abacela!

2010-04-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

Over the past week Bud Break has occurred in numerous grape varieties, especially Grenache, Albariño, Mourvédre, and the Port varietals. Despite cold morning hours the vines tender leaf structure survived, and that’s no April Fools'!

Just released... 2007 Port and 2007 Malbec!

2010-03-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

New releases... 2007 Port and 2007 Malbec!

Check 'em out on the website or ask your local wine shop/wine bars to stock them.

2007 was a crazy-good vintage in Southern Oregon so we hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Abacela at Steamboat Inn this Saturday

2010-03-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Winemaker Dinner at Steamboat Inn

Join Earl and Hilda Jones for a relaxing dinner at the Steamboat Inn featuring Chef Rocky Maselli of Marché Restaurant in Eugene. Be the first to taste several of our new releases including the 2009 Albarino, 2008 Garnacha and 2007 Port. Winemaker/Guest Chef dinners are $85 per person (including wine). Seating is limited and sells out quickly. Please call Steamboat Inn directly for reservations and accommodations.

Steamboat Inn
42705 North Umpqua Hwy, Steamboat, OR 97447, (800) 840-8825

Check out an article about these popular dinners here.

Abacela at the McMinnville Wine & Food Classic

2010-03-08T11:53:00.000-08:00

Abacela returns to the McMinnville Wine & Food Classic March 12-14th at the Evergreen Space Museum! Winemaker Andrew Wenzl will be in attendance to pour wine, share stories and answer questions. Also, we'll have killer deals on the Viognier and the... first time ever outside the winery... Muscat. Stop by and see us!

Tempranillo, or Rioja, red wines explained

2010-03-05T16:40:00.001-08:00

"Earl and Hilda Jones spent years researching the perfect place to grow tempranillo, and, rather improbably, ended up in Oregon. Their wines have proven them prophets" Full Article

Jacksonville Inn Dinner - a Smash!

2010-03-05T16:26:00.000-08:00

Earl & Hilda had a great time at the Jacksonville Inn last Friday night. Chef Bill Heubel's pairings were out of this world. Check out the dish presentations here.

Abacela Albarino at dirtcandy, New York City

2010-03-05T15:59:00.000-08:00

"this is one of the best American white wines on the market. Complex, fragrant, crisp and mellow, it’s ready to throw a tantrum, slam the door to its bedroom, crank up its music and refuse to come out if you don’t order it." Full Review