Earl and Hilda Jones’ passion for Tempranillo and the challenge to create America’s first acclaimed Tempranillo inspired them to leave successful careers and take up the study of viticulture and enology. Their focus on the critically important factors of climate and soils would facilitate choosing the right location in America to grow their own version of Tempranillo. Their research led to Oregon’s Umpqua Valley where they founded Abacela and in 1995 planted Tempranillo. Their 1998 vintage, made from 3 year old vines, stunned the wine world by winning the Tempranillo class of the 2001 San Francisco International Wine Competition. To make the very best wines possible the Joneses chose to process their grapes in small batches using an artisan, minimal handling, gravity flow system. As a result of their pioneering efforts, Tempranillo, Albarino and several alternative varieties initially trialed at Abacela are grown throughout the Pacific Northwest.