Orixe Sotelo Tinta Alta Tempranillo California 2019

One of the most intriguing aspects of wine is its ability to link us to the past, entice us in the present, and point us to the future.  At Orixe Sotelo, making wine is about honoring the history of how vines came to flourish in California and expanding that deeply rooted wine culture through the "lens" of Spanish grape varietals.

After a short stint in the world of publishing, winemaker Gustavo Sotelo dove head first into the world of wine.  He worked all aspects of cellar, viticulture, and hospitality at Etude, Mumm, and White Rock Vineyards (to name a few) while simultaneously earning his second Bachelor's degree from UC Davis in Viticulture & Enology.  He joined the uber-hip team at SCRIBE in 2015, where he is the Associate Winemaker & Director of Operations.  While Gustavo earned his chops in the wine world, Jackie Sotelo worked in San Francisco as a Senior Marketing Manager for an urban development and planning company.  Though Jackie's career did not directly interface with wine, she sought it out whenever possible.  While traveling and collaborating with small wineries and restaurants in her development projects, she drank and tasted through all she could.  Gustavo & Jackie met in San Francisco, and their relationship blossomed as fate would have it.  In the Spring of 2017, Jackie's career focus shifted to wine and she signed on to oversee Digital Marketing at Ashes & Diamonds Winery in Napa.  After a little less than a year at A&D, she joined Bedrock Wines as the Direct-to-Consumer Manager, where she wears many hats and has been instrumental in the brand's growth.  Gustavo's inspirational time as a harvest intern with Bodegas Mauro in Ribera del Duero was a pivotal experience for him and in his sharing of the story, for Jackie too.  During this time, Gustavo found himself connecting to his familial roots in Northern Spain and absorbing the stories and knowledge of the region's winemakers, along with developing an appreciation for the delicious complexity of its traditional grapes.  Both embraced their heritage and the history that shaped Orixe Sotelo vision, in which Gustavo and Jackie explore the vast potential for Spanish varietals in California.

For Orixe Sotelo's "Tinta Alta"" debut, they searched for the best California mountain-top vineyard sites that would reflect similarities to the high-elevation regions in Spain best known for growing Tempranillo. The wine is 100% Tempranillo sourced from 2 vineyard sites:  Shake Ridge Ranch in Amador County (56%) and Stagecoach Vineyard in Napa County (44%).  Both vineyards boast elevations above 1,400 feet with cooler, mountain air that allows the thin-skinned Tempranillo grapes to ripen fully and maintain their acidity. 

The 2019 "Tinta Alta" was 100% de-stemmed and fermented in stainless steel open-top tanks.  Gustavo applied a light hand throughout fermentation, moving the wine only a couple of times a day to keep the cap wet and temperatures even.  After 2-3 weeks on the skins, the wine was pressed and racked into barrels (30% is new French oak) for its 22-month long aging.  Aromas of dark, red fruits, dried earth, and sage appear first and lead into tastes of cedar with fine tannins and full body.  In addition, Orixe Sotelo is implementing the solera aging method for their "Tinta Alta".  They blend small portions of the past vintage with each new year to add depth and body to the wine.   With each sip of "Tinta Alta", one can taste the history of the wine in the present and look forward to its enjoyment and age in the future.