Spanish invasion

Tempranillo, from Spain, is a new favorite with the Australian grape growers.

One of the reasons for its popularity is its broad flavour spectrum. It can show strawberry/raspberry/blackberry/mulberry characters, as well as tobacco/herb/olive/tar/spice and sometimes an earthy, farmyard character. It can be quite silky, with fine chalky tannins.

On another note,

Cropping levels must be kept low. "Treat it mean," Fernandez says. "Don't allow it to sprout like a rampant adolescent," Adams adds. "It has large leaves," Leske points out, "and they're great for people in nudist colonies."

Funny!

Check out Spanish conquistador (theage.com.au)