Tempranillo
/temp-rah-NEE-yoh/Tempranillo is Spain's greatest red grape, the soul of Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Named for 'temprano' (early), it ripens earlier than most Spanish grapes, producing wines of medium body, bright acidity, and complex earth and fruit. When aged in American oak — as in traditional Rioja — it develops extraordinary tobacco, leather, and vanilla complexity. In modern, terroir-focused wines of Ribera del Duero, it can be almost Cabernet-like in structure. In Portugal it is known as Aragonez or Tinta Roriz.
Grape profile
Character & style
| Trait | Character |
|---|---|
| Body | medium |
| Acidity | medium |
| Tannins | medium |
| Sweetness | dry |
| Alcohol tendency | medium |
| Origin | Rioja, Spain |
| Common flavours | dark cherry, prune, tobacco, earth, coconut, licorice |
| Aromas | strawberry, plum, tobacco, leather, vanilla, herbs, earth |
Pairing
Best food pairings
- Lamb chops
- Manchego
- chorizo
- grilled beef
- Iberian ham
- braised meats
Where it thrives
Key regions for Tempranillo
Spain, Portugal, United States, Argentina, Australia
Rioja
Rioja is Spain's most famous wine region, built on Tempranillo and a centuries-old love affair with oak. Its a…
Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero produces some of Spain's most powerful, age-worthy reds at altitudes above 800 metres, where …
Priorat
Priorat is one of only two DOCa regions in Spain, producing dense, mineral, long-lived wines from old low-yiel…
Alentejo
Alentejo is Portugal's hot, sun-baked southern plain producing generous, plush, fruit-forward reds from the hi…