TEMPRANILLO
Tempranillo is a primary red wine grape for much of Spain, especially wines from the Ribera del Duero and the Rioja Alta. It is also a key blending varietal in Port and known by the name of tinta roriz in Portugal's Douro Valley.
Tempranillo means 'the little early one', a name given to it by Spanish grape growers who observed its habit of ripening earlier than Grenache (or rather, Garnacha), its traditional Spanish blending partner.
Tempranillo vines prefer a cooler climate and have low resistance to many vine diseases and pests. The vines themselves tolerate heat well, but the fruit develops indistinct flavors and undesirable characteristics in warm climes. The vines have a tendency to over-crop and clusters are usually large.
Tempranillo wines can be consumed young, but the most expensive ones are aged for several years in oak barrels. The wines are ruby red in colour, with aromas and flavors of berries, plum, tobacco, vanilla, leather and herb. Tempranillo grapes tend to be low both in overall acidity and in sugar, but often high in pH, and nearly always high in tannin from their thick skins.
Grape Variety
Tempranillo
Use in Old World
Spain & Portugal
Use in New World
Argentina and spreading to USA & Australia
Color
Light Brick.
Aroma
Cherry, Plum & Mint.
Body
Light to Medium
Wine Making Flavors
Moderate use of oak incorporates well into the wine.
Blended with
Grenache,Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano and more recently Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Other
Also known in Spain as Tinto Madrid, Tinto de la Riojga, Tintao Fino, Tinto del Pais and Tinto de Toro, in Portugal as Tintao Roriz or Aragonêz, in California as Valdepenas and in Italy as (probably) Negretto.
