TAPAS: Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society

Andy Perdue mentioned the founding of an advocacy organization focused on the Tempranillo grape in his latest Wine Press Northwest newsletter.  TAPAS (Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society) follows in the footsteps of other groups advocating Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.  Little information is yet found on the web site, other than their February 10 press release; perhaps they will sponsor special events focusing on Tempranillo, following the lead of the Rhone Rangers and the creatively named ZAP events (e.g., Zin In The City and Zinposium).  To be honest, the only US-produced Tempranillo I've ever tasted was the Abacela 2001 "Umpqua Cuvee" Tempranillo, but this dark, thick fruit-bomb was such a treat that I'm eager to expand my experiences with this grape.