💎 The Best Hidden Gem Yet? 💎
After 32 issues of poking around every red shelf in the bottle-o, we’ve finally cracked open a Tempranillo for Vine In The Rough - and mate, this one's a belter! It’s smooth, bold, $10.99, and frankly we’re wondering how it stayed under our radar for so long.
Got a mate who reckons anything under $15 is cooking wine? Forward this and watch them backpedal.
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Olé! A Spanish Surprise Worth Shouting About 💃
🍷 Olé! Tempranillo Vino Tinto (2019)
This one took us by surprise in the best kind of way. We’d tried Tempranillo before - liked it, sure - but none of the past bottles made enough of an impression to stick. Not this one. This one parked itself in our memory like a ute in the driveway. We’re already planning to gett another bottle just to check it wasn't a fluke...purely scientific, of course.
Straight out of Spain (as Tempranillo should be), the Olé! Tempranillo comes from the grape’s spiritual home - and it shows. Tempranillo is often referred to as their answer to Shiraz, which we love, and maybe that’s why it suits our taste so well. Or maybe it’s just flat-out delicious.
We’re not going to throw around fancy tasting notes or start talking about “mouthfeel.” Let’s keep it simple: this drop is deep red, tastes bold, and glides down smoother than a tradie’s pay on a Friday arvo. We were halfway through the glass before we remembered we were supposed to be reviewing it, not just enjoying it.
Even better, it’s $10.99 at Dan Murphy’s. That’s everyday pricing, not some short-lived clearance tag you’ll never find again. And if someone’s trying to flog this to you for more than twenty bucks - smile, nod, and buy it somewhere else.
On the back of our suprise, we checked out some online reviews. Mostly sitt around 3 or 4 out of 5. All we can say is...huh? Either the reviewers had a different vintage, or their tastebuds are in a different postcode to ours. The 2019 vintage we tried? Easy 9 out of 10. Could be even higher if it came in a slightly fancier outfit.
That brings us to the label. It’s colourful, bright, and unapologetically Spanish - which is great if you’re having tapas on the patio, but maybe not ideal if you’re trying to pass it off as a posh drop at your cousin’s engagement. It doesn’t lose any points, but it’s not giving premium penthouse vibes either. Think “Euro holiday rental,” not “five-star suite.”
Bottom line? Everyone from your Nonno to your neighbour’s cat would probably enjoy this. Just maybe don’t pour a glass for the kids - it might be considered "questionable" parenting. We had ours with spaghetti and pork meatballs, but you could whack it next to a scotch fillet and some charred asparagus and feel like a MasterChef finalist.
VITR Official Score: 9 / 10
👍 Reality vs Perception: This drinks like a $30 bottle someone accidentally priced wrong.
👩🎨 Label Aesthetics: Bright, lively, and a bit of a show pony, but not fooling anyone at a black tie dinner.
👴 Comparison to Nonno’s Home Brew: Nonno would nod slowly, take another sip, and quietly stash the bottle in his cellar.
🪩 Fit for an Engagement Party: Great for the cousins and mates - maybe don’t put it next to the champagne tower.
🤑 Keep the Change: Enough left over for a nice piece of cheese or block of dark chocolate.
Real Talk
📖 Fake It 'Til You Make It
Tinto: Just the Spanish word for red wine, but say it like you know what you’re doing and suddenly you’re cultured. “Bit of Tinto with dinner?” Boom. Worldly.
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💡 Sip Tip
Do the Two-Bottle Test: If you like a wine, buy two. That way, when you accidentally drink the whole first one mid-TV binge, you’ve got a backup ready to go.
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🍿 Sip & Snack
Tempranillo & Beef Rissoles: There are the obvious pairings, but something tells us whipping up some good ol’ rissoles and mash would let this wine shine.
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Until Next Issue, Cheers 🍷
This one’s the real deal. Big flavour, no fuss, and easy on the wallet...and that's what Vine In The Rough is all about. We’re dead set keen to test out more bottles and find a new favourite under $15.
Cheers to good wine and great surprises! 🍷
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