Orixe Sotelo Cordillera Tempranillo Atlas Peak 2021

One of the most intriguing aspects of wine is its ability to link us to the past, entice us into the present, and point us to the future. At Orixe Sotelo (pronounced o-ree-shay so-tell-oh), making wine is about honoring how vines flourished in California and expanding that deeply rooted wine culture through the "lens" of Spanish grape varietals.

After a short stint in the publishing world, winemaker Gustavo Sotelo dove head-first into the world of wine. He worked in all aspects of cellar, viticulture, and hospitality at Etude, Mumm, and White Rock Vineyards (to name a few) while earning his second bachelor's degree in Viticulture & Enology from UC Davis. 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 connected to his familial roots in Northern Spain. He absorbed the stories and knowledge of the region's winemakers and developed an appreciation for the delicious complexity of its traditional grapes. Both embraced their heritage and the history that shaped Orixe Sotelo's vision, in which Gustavo and Jackie explore the vast potential for Spanish varietals in California.

Rioja is arguably Spain's most well-known sub-region, acclaimed for its Tempranillo-based red wines that collectors covet. In crafting the Cordillera, Gustavo aims to mimic two qualifying and distinguishing characteristics of traditional Rioja: the geography of the region and the aging technique. The prized reds of Rioja come predominantly from the Rioja Alta area, where vineyards sit at higher altitudes and experience a shorter growing period. Tempranillo, "early riser" in Spanish, was named as such because the varietal ripens early in the harvest, proving it to be a fantastic grape for mountain vineyards. Gustavo discovered just the right fruit at the Stagecoach Vineyard atop Atlas Peak. Not only have they planted some of the less than 1,000 acres of Tempranillo in California, but those vines also lie at 1,500 feet of elevation. Orixe's harvest of Stagecoach Tempranillo fermented in open stainless-steel tanks with native yeast for 15 days on the skins. At the end of fermentation, the 18-month aging process began in 30% new French oak barrels. Gustavo racked the wine oxidatively every four to six months, allowing oxygen to interact with the wine between barrels, enhancing the secondary flavors and aromas of classic Tempranillo.  The hints of leather and dried herbs layered with the red and dark fruit nuances of cherry, plum, and Mission fig meld, creating a curiously complex wine that unlocks new notes with every sip.