Friend and Farmer Hand Work Tempranillo Castilla La Mancha, Spain

A full liter of Tempranillo goodness!

There is a saying that to make great wine you must torture the grapes. If that is so, then La Mancha is an ideal place to make wine. Days are hot, conveying a lush roundness to the fruit. Nights are cold, providing the fruit with the bracing acidity needed to produce a balanced and lively wine. Rainfall is almost nonexistent, allowing the vines to grow grapes nicely concentrated in flavor.

Central Spain -- La Mancha

“Friend and Farmer” and “Hand Work” represent the vision of three brothers: Francisco, Javier, and Luis Parra. The plan was to celebrate winemaking in their home of La Mancha by using only organically and biodynamically grown grapes, along with strict adherence to traditional, time-honored winemaking techniques. They chose world-class winemaker, Juan Antonio Ponce of Bodegas Ponce, to help make this dream a reality.

The vineyards on the estate are carefully tended by a team of local growers who have been engaged in traditional, pesticide-free farming their entire lives. Almost all of the work is done by hand — the vines are carefully pruned and the cuttings are mulched and used in the vineyards as fertilizer. A flock of 1,500 black sheep, a breed native to La Mancha, wander through the property providing natural weed control and additional fertilizer for the vineyards. “Everything is done in a traditional, sustainable and healthy manner,” according to Francisco Parra, “and you can taste it in the glass.”

A small section of the Parra family vineyard holdings

Vegan and Demeter Certified

Friend and Farmer wines are Demeter (biodynamic) and vegan certified with only naturally occurring sulfites. The Hand Work Tempranillo is a full liter instead of 750ml, making this an exceptional value!

This smooth and suave medium-bodied red will greet you with a melange of red fruit notes including plum, cherry, and raspberry. Don’t let it fool you though, there are plenty of “serious” notes of earth and spice to balance out the tasty fruit. It’s an easy-drinking Tempranillo with just the right amount of structure for a meal while retaining all the juicy, satisfying fruit perfect for enjoyment on the porch or by the fire pit. Hammond and I can attest to the fact that it’s great to sip on while you’re preparing your next culinary treat! This is a perfect wine to make the transition from the heat of summer to the cool fall days and cooler nights.

While great on its own, this super versatile red will hit all marks with pasta and pizza all the way to Cajun and Tex-Mex. It’s especially great with grilled chicken, pork chops and your favorite burger setup!

This is the third vintage we’ve featured of this Tempranillo, and we feel it’s even better than last year’s release! We also have an awesome Verdejo from this same producer!

Friend and Farmer Hand Work
Castilla La Mancha, Spain

Tempranillo
$15.99
$ 13
59
In a mixed or solid case
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