Jorge Temprado and the wines of La Vilueña

Viticulturist and winemaker Jorge Temprado welcomes the Spanish Wine Collective to his exciting project in La Vilueña

Last weekend the writers from the Spanish Wine Collective converged on Calatayud, a town in the province of Zaragoza in Aragón. It’s an interesting place with layers of history visible from its Celtiberian, Roman, Jewish and Islamic past.

Calatayud

We enjoyed splendid traditional Aragonese dishes at Mesón de la Dolores, and had the warmest of welcomes each time we visited Bar Carlos, truly un bar de toda la vida.

It was a privilege to visit Jorge Temprado, a young viticulturalist and winemaker in La Vilueña, near Calatayud. After studying oenology and gaining experience around the world (in France, Italy, South Africa and New Zealand, as well as closer to home), he returned to his origins in Aragón and joined the winemaking team at Bodegas San Alejandro. Since 2021 he has been developing his own project in La Vilueña where his grandparents and other family members used to grow vines.

Jorge in the vineyard that belonged to his mother’s cousin

Jorge works with dry-farmed, bush vines on slate soils over a layer of clay. As well as planting different Garnacha biotypes, he also farms little known local varieties such as Derechero de Muniesa.

A parcel with 60-year-old vines of Derechero de Muniesa 

Jorge’s wines are beginning to get recognition. There is a very positive mention in the recent report by Beth Willard on the Top 100 Aragón wines of 2024. This is a project definitely worth paying attention to.

A Cavilaciones spotted at rest with its vines 

Spanish Wine Collective writers share their reflections on the visit.

Adrian McManus

I must admit I knew next to nothing about Jorge’s wines before last Saturday, but what a revelation it was. His role in the regeneration of vineyards and rare varietals such as Derechero de Muniesa near his home village of La Vilueña cannot be understated.

I particularly liked Cavilaciones, probably because it reminded me of the lithe, aromatic reds of more familiar territory, the Salnés Valley in Galicia. The Cuquero red, the white blend of Macabeo and Garnacha, and the beautiful rosé, both under the Pequeño label, also hit the ball out of the park. Big thanks again to Jorge for his peerless hospitality and buen hacer. Still buzzing!

Pequeño Blanco and Rosado

Alan Nance

What better than to taste a wine amidst the vines from which it came, at your side the man who crafted it, a man who, as he speaks, reveals his connection to this place. That the wine is made from Derechero de Muniesa, a red variety unknown to me, merely adds to the mystique.

His battered van takes us to another parcel, this one larger and planted mostly with Garnacha Tinta and Macabeo, along with small amounts of Moristel, Miguel de Arco and Colgadera, among others. Two more bottles are uncorked: a white and a rosado. They each bear the name Pequeño, yet upon tasting it is immediately clear that their potential is anything but small.

Jorge in one of his parcels near Munébrega

Back in the van we climb to a hilltop, from where it seems the whole of Aragón stretches before me. Jorge sets up a rickety table and adorns it with cheese, cured sausage and two more bottles, this time red, the third of his Pequeño wines. While we eat and drink, I notice a detail of the little stone chapel that sits atop the hillside. It is named in honour of St John, the patron saint of friendship. How apt, I think, and sip again.

Jorge uncorks Garnacha at the Ermita de San Juan

Through his labour and vision, Jorge is embracing this land, drawing on the past to lay foundation for the future. What a pleasure it will be to follow the evolution of his project, of his wines, in years to come. What an honour it has been to spend a morning in his company.

Chris Lynch

Wow! Spending Saturday morning with Jorge and his wines was a real pleasure. Not knowing what to expect, it turned out to be an unforgettable experience at the hands of this exciting young winemaker.

Tasting his wines in the specific vineyards was very special. And to add to this priceless occasion, we even rocked up at an ermita to be greeted by Jorge assembling a small table to serve us charcuterie and cheese. Along with more wine! What’s not to like?

Local queso, chorizo, longaniza to accompany the Cuquero 2022 and Pequeño 2023

Our time spent with Jorge perfectly encapsulates the point of the Spanish Wine Collective: to share stories. And boy did he do that! I’m excited to follow Jorge on his journey. A massive thanks for his hospitality, passion and generosity. Salud.

Bill Bolloten

Eric Asimov, the renowned wine critic of the New York Times, recently said, “One of the most beautiful things about good wine is the way it reflects the place that the grapes are grown.” Our visit to Jorge Temprado confirmed the truth of this.

Standing in the vineyard where the grapes for the Pequeño Blanco are grown, while sipping that aromatic, herbal, racy wine evoked an appreciation of the sheer beauty that he had coaxed out of his vines.

Those feelings were only amplified when we arrived at the ermita at 860 m and sipped his 2022 and 2023 Garnachas, as we took in the grandeur of the timeless landscape below. It was an occasion of pure fellowship for which we were all grateful.

A view of La Vilueña from the ermita

Wines tasted

Cavilaciones 2022 (Derechero de Muniesa)

Cavilaciones 2023 (Derechero de Muniesa)

Pequeño Blanco 2023 (Macabeo and Garnacha Blanca)

Pequeño Rosado 2023 (Field blend with Garnacha Blanca, Colgadera and Miguel de Arco)

Cuquero 2022 (Garnacha Tinta)

Pequeño 2023 (Garnacha Tinta)

Contact

Jorge Temprado Viticultor
Tel: +34 606 83 27 05
Email: jorgevitis@gmail.com