I went to Cuban Pete’s in Montclair, NJ the other night and it was fantastic! It was my first time there and I wanted a wine that pairs well with a lot of foods especially Cuban Food. This wine was the perfect choice with the Dates wrapped in bacon, the Empenadas, and shrimp and coconut rice (although I could pick tons more on the menu to go with this wine because everything sounded so delicious)!

Temperanillo is widely grown to make full-bodied red wines in its native Spain, and is a black grape varietal. I chose this wine to pair with our meal and it worked out perfectly! This 2008 Vina Zaco Temperanillo from Rioja, it has intense cherry colors with violet hues and a purple rim. On the nose, very floral with lots of ripe red fruit leaping out of the glass. On the palate, very structured with round tannins. At first I noticed a lot of spice, some toasty notes, and then ripe red fruit. I loved this wine because as it opened up it really developed in the glass and became softer showing more red fruit a lot of the floral notes I got off the nose.

This wine is fun, easy to drink,very well balanced, and not too expensive! Retail I paid $10.97, and it was very much worth it!