RoLu Tempranillo

The name RoLu is a play on the owner's name: Luis Rodriguez. RoLu Blend is a blend of red grapes Tempranillo, Nebbiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested from different vineyards located in

Mexican-born Napa Valley winemaker Luis Rodriguez recently released his first wine from a vineyard he planted in northern Baja California in Mexico. RoLu Vino Tinto, a high-end red blend comprised of Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, and Cabernet Sauvignon, is only sold in Mexico and distributed by Vinos Wagner. Rodriguez, winemaker at Caymus Vineyards in Rutherford, Napa Valley, grew up in Mexico and moved to the United States as a teenager seeking a better education and work. In 1990, Chuck Wagner, Caymus’ viticulturist, winemaker, and owner, hired the 19-year-old Rodriguez to work on the winery’s bottling line. Over the years, Rodriguez worked his way up to the winemaking assistant position he now holds. Chuck Wagner says, "Luis rose through the ranks because of his love of wine. I consider him one of the best winemakers in the world today, an unsung hero of this highly competitive fine wine industry." In 2001, Rodriguez traveled to Mexico, where on a whim he purchased a half-ton of Tempranillo grapes from a small producer in San Vicente, a region located in northern Baja California. He soon found himself planting 20 acres of vines on the same site.