From: Castilla la Mancha, Spain
Varietal: Garnacha, Tempranillo, Merlot, Monastrell, Syrah, Riesling, Verdejo
Tasting Notes: Like the rest of the Gulp Hablo lineup, the 2022 Gulp Hablo Red Blend really lives up to its name! The winemaking team did an incredible job blending seven grape varieties (including two white grapes) to achieve a cohesive, incredibly smooth and fresh light red wine. Impressions of juicy strawberry and cherry, wet stones, herbs like thyme and fennel, and even hints of stone fruit prevail, inviting easy enjoyment. Serve it with a slight chill.
Pairing: This chillable red will quench your thirst with or without food! It would taste great with a spread of snacks including veggies and hummus, chips and guacamole, or cheese and crackers with Serrano ham. Ramp things up to a full meal with a classic BLT sandwich, weeknight chicken chili, pizza night, grilled veggies, or loaded nachos. Because this wine is so fresh, chillable, and light-bodied, we’re sharing a recipe for an equally refreshing dish: Yasmin Fahr’s Skillet Ginger Chicken With Apricots.
About. Gulp Hablo is the dream of three brothers, Francisco, Javier, and Luis Parra. The hope was to celebrate their home of La Mancha by raising organically and biodynamically grown grapes. Since 2017, they’ve partnered with the exceptional winemaker Juan Antonio Ponce of Bodegas Ponce to carry the Gulp Hablo (ah-blow) project to fruition; the name is play on the word ‘gulpable’ and that’s exactly what it is.
The Parra brothers work two vineyards near the town of Las Mesas, located about two hours’ drive south-east of Madrid. One is Entresendas (between paths) sitting in a dried river bed. These rich, alluvial soils are perfect for the cultivation of grapes, reflecting light and heat and ensuring drainage. The other vineyard is officially named Olla del Monte (cooking pan in the mountain), perhaps better known by its local name: Cuesta Colorá (the colored slope). This gentle slope is covered in chalky clay and a fine layer of pebbles on the surface that capture and radiate the heat of the sun—a key benefit during desert nights.
