Tempted by Tempranillo
Tempranillo is the most famous and important black grape variety in Spain, where it has been grown since the time of the Phonicians. It is the main grape used in Rioja and the sole grape used in Ribera del Duero as well as appearing in many other Spanish wine making regions, including La Mancha, Navarra and Rueda to name a few. Outside of Spain Tempranillo is most prominently found in Portugal, where it is known as Tinta Roriz or Aragonez, and is used in frequently in the Douro and Alentejo for making ports and red wines. Outside of the Iberian Peninsula the grape is grown in pockets throughout the world such as South America, California and the McLaren Vale.
When people think of Tempranillo Rioja is often the first place that comes to mind. The grape accounts for three quarters of all vines planted in the region and is the main variety in most wines from Rioja. It is often blended with Garnacha (aka Grenache), Mazuelo (aka Carignan) and very occasionally Maturana Tinta. Tempranillo is the star of the blend with its flavours of red cherry, strawberry, plum, fig and spice, performing a similar role to Cabernet Sauvignon in a Bordeaux Blend. When it is blended with its partners they can add acidity, depth and complexity, complimenting the characteristics of Tempranillo. You can even find examples of Tempranillo making white wines here, as well as the far more famous red wines.
Ribera Del Duero is another region famous for the high quality of the wines they make using Tempranillo. The wines of the region are made with 90-100% of Tempranillo and are some of the most highly prized wines in Spain. The vines here are grown at a higher altitude than many other parts of Spain, and its hot, short summers are well suited to the early ripening Tempranillo (temprano means early in Spanish). The wines often have a stoney minerality alongside the typical red fruit flavours. The other major difference between the wines of Rioja and Ribera Del Duero is that Ribera uses small French oak barrels, imparting subtle smokey and spicey notes, as opposed to the larger American Oak barrels used in Rioja, which give more robust flavours such as vanilla and coconut.
In Portugal they have the largest planting of Tempranillo vines outside of Spain. Here it goes by a number of different aliases, including Tinta Roriz in the Douro and Dão and Aragonês in Alentejo. In the Douro it is one of the six main varieties used in Port production, as well as being used to make the Douro’s table wines. The rich, robust yet elegant red wines it produces here are often made using blends of other indigenous grapes, typically Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca in the north, and using Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet in the south of Portugal.
If this little blog has tempted you to try some more Tempranillo wines why not try one of the ones we recommend below:
Name / Producer: Perdido Tempranillo Region: / Price: £11.95
A Superb quality Tempranillo from the 3 Riberas Denomination lying south of the Pyrenees and bordering the Rioja Region. Classic Tempranillo packed with dark cherry and hints of spice. Dark Rich colour in the glass and smaooth and full bodied on the finish.
Name / Producer: Principe de Viana Crianza Region: Navarra / Price: £12.95
This Crianza wine is made with Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and aged for 12 months in American and French barrels. Aromas of cassis, ripe black cherries and figs, with hints of vanilla, coconut, cocoa and cinnamon. The palate is well balanced, with smooth tannins and a supple fruity finish. Príncipe de Viana Crianza is a red wine that is right on every occasion and can always take a place on your dining table. Particularly good food pairings include cold meats, vegetables, white and red meats, game, semi-cured and cured cheeses.
Name / Producer: Manzanos Rioja Blanco Vinas Viejas Finca Manzanos Region: Rioja / Price: £16.95
Upbeat aromas of sweet peach, citrus and tropical fruits carry through to the palate, which is accompanied by creamy notes and spices from time in oak. This is an energetic white Rioja, a blend of Viura and Tempranillo with generous weight that is perfectly balanced by bright acidity.
Name / Producer: Tempranillo Gaudeamus Gaudeamus Region: Ribera del Duero / Price: £17.95
A richly robust, full bodied dry red, showing the jammy black fruits and spice of the noble Tempranillo. Captivating and complex, with notes of liquorice, kirsch and black fruit jam from the warm well sited vineyards and high element of hand picked fruit. Produced Organically.
Name / Producer: Portal Colheita Tinto Quinta do Portal Region: Douro / Price: £20.95
Made with a very carefully winemaking, using gravity and precise techniques, this wine is full bodied with a ripe berry colour and fruity aromas marked by Tinta Roriz that is responsible for the intense aroma of young fresh fruit and by floral notes from the Touriga Nacional. Excellent freshness, toasty and appetising in the mouth, with an attractive and elegant finish. It’s a wine that we can enjoy from now but it will also age a few years very well.
Name / Producer: El Vinculo Crianza Familia Fernandez Rivera Region: La Mancha / Price: £21.95
It has an expressive and concentrated nose. The ripe blackberry and plum type fruit stands out, accompanied by a subtle liquorice background, typical nuances of the Tempranillo variety. Its 23-month aging in American oak barrels gives it enveloping aromas of vanilla and cocoa. The palate is a full-bodied wine, with polished and well-integrated tannins. Attractive fruity and meaty attack, with a wide, voluminous mid palate, a long and pleasant finish with hints of sweet spices and roasted notes such as toffee or cocoa. Rated 92 points by James Suckling.