1. Tempranillo is a very old variety with historical references to the grape dating back to 1807; however, it is believed that the variety was brought to the Iberian Peninsula of Spain and Portugal by the Phoenicians over 3,000 years ago.
There is much debate in the world of wine about the impact that soil has on wine. Soil types differ by the size of particles, mineral and nutrient content, amount of decomposed organic material, and water retention capacity. Volcanic soils are different as they can be formed by a variety of events like slow flowing lava, explosively expelled rock, and airborne ash that settles to form a new layer.
Originally, there were six noble grapes identified: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot for the reds; and Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling for the whites. “Noble grapes” is a term that was coined to describe international grape varieties that were the most recognized for the top-quality wine they produce.
The Fredericksburg community is close-knit, and City Vino loves to partner with other neighboring businesses to help keep that sense of community going strong. One of those businesses is our upstairs neighbors, Fredericksburg Theatre Ensemble (FTE) at Fred's Theatre.
The Republic of North Macedonia is one of the regions included in the six Balkan countries alongside Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, and Kosovo. North Macedonia is considered one of Europe’s few undiscovered wine countries. The vineyards, mountains, lakes, and rivers are amid grand historic ruins and idyllic small villages that have remained relatively unchanged for centuries.