Tempranillo is Spain’s most widely planted and celebrated red grape variety, playing a major role across all quality levels. It is the grape variety behind the wines from Rioja.
Tempranillo typically shows flavours of strawberry, tobacco leaf and leather, with a mellow character derived from its moderate acidity and tannin. Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero often shows a more concentrated, rich style than in Rioja. In warmer climates such as Toro the grape can become extremely ripe with blackberry fruit. Oak influence often has a significant impact on style.
Tempranillo has a long history in Spain and is thought to have been introduced here by Phoenician settlers in around the 8th century BC.
Tempranillo may be the world’s third most planted grape variety, but the vast majority of this is centred on Spain with neighbour Portugal accounting for much of the rest. Tempranillo thrives in the cooler parts of Rioja, where it accounts for over 75% of total vineyard plantings. It also plays a leading role in many other Spanish regions including Ribera del Duero, Somontano, Penedès and Valdepeñas. In Portugal, where Tempranillo is called Tinta Roriz or Aragonêz, the grape is a major blending component of Port and the most planted red grape in Alentejo. Beyond the Iberian Peninsula, the only significant volumes of Tempranillo lie in Argentina and Australia. The grape also has a long, if low key, track record in California.
Tempranillo takes its name from the Spanish “temprano”, meaning “early”, a reference to the early-ripening characteristic that makes this grape so suitable for cooler parts of its Spanish homeland.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Albillo Negro, Aldepenas, Aragon, Aragonez 51, Aragones, Aragonez Da Ferra, Aragonez De Elvas, Aragonez, Arauxa, Arganda, Arinto Tinto, Cencibera, Cencibel, Chinchillano, Chinchillana, Chinchilyano, Cencibal, Crujidera, Escobera, Cupani, Garnacho Fono, De Por Aca, Juan Garcia, Grenache De Logrono, Jacivera, Jacibera, Jacibiera, Palomino Negro, Negretto, Negra De Mesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Do Pais, Tinta Do Inacio, Tinta Santiago, Tinto Aragon, Tinta Fina, Tinto Aragones, Ojo De Liebre, Olho De Lebre, Tinta Madrid, Sensibel, Tinto Aragonez, Tinta Monteira, Tinta Monteiro, Pinuela, Tinta Roris, Vid De Aranda, Roriz, Tempranilla, Tinto De Rioja, Tinto Del Pais, Tinto De La Ribera, Tinto De Madrid, Tinta De Madrid, Tinta Del Pais, Verdiell, Tinta De Santiago, Tinta De Toro, Tempranillo Crni, Tempranillo De La Rioja, Tinta Corriente, Ull De Liebre, Ull De Llebre, Tinta Aragones, Tinto De Toro, Tempranillo De Perralta, Tempranillo De Rioja, Tempranillo De Rioza, Tempranillo Rioja, Tinto Del Toro, Tinto Fino De Madrid, Tinto Fino, Tinto Madrid, Tinto Pais, Tinto Ribiera, Tinto Riojano, Tinto Tempranillo
