Tempranillo is the Classic Red Grape of Rioja…and So Many Other Regions, Too!
Tempranillo may be best known as the main grape variety in Rioja, arguably Spain’s most famous wine. But it excels in amazing ways throughout that country, as well as in more unexpected regions around the world. Let’s take a look at what makes this grape so special.
What is Tempranillo?
Even among wine connoisseurs, it’s common to hear the question what is the Tempranillo grape? Put simply, Tempranillo is the most important red grape variety of Spain, where it plays a key role in regions like Rioja—Rioja wine is a blend that’s based on the Tempranillo grape with a bit of the Garnacha grape variety, and others, added to it—Toro (where Tempranillo is actually called Tinta de Toro), Ribera del Duero, and more. Tempranillo red wine, no matter where it’s produced, is one of the most classic expressions of Spanish wine. In Portugal, where it’s also important, Temoranillo is known as Tinta Roriz.
Is Tempranillo dry or sweet?
Tempranillo is almost always vinified into a dry wine. Though sweeter versions exist—and in riper vintages, the fruit can seem fairly ripe—the most common expression of Tempranillo is dry. However, in Port, the famous sweet fortified wine or Portugal, Tinta Roriz is an important blending component. It also makes great dry wines in Portugal.
Is Pinot Noir similar to Tempranillo?
And what does Tempranillo taste like? Tempranillo tends to boast cherry and brambly berry notes, as well as hints of spice, leather, and earth. Figs are also commonly tasted. It’s also generally structured by fairly assertive tannins. Pinot Noir, on the other hand, tends to find its proverbial footing on the cherry-flower-earth end of the spectrum, with more delicate tannins and a greater amount of acidity for structure. So while there is some occasional overlap, they are quite different wines.
Is Tempranillo similar to Merlot?
Not really: Tempranillo tends to boast cherry and brambly berry notes, as well as hints of spice, leather, figs, and earth. It’s also generally structured by fairly assertive tannins. Merlot generally expressed more plummy fruit, often with hints of chocolate, especially if it’s been aged in oak barrels. And whereas Tempranillo can also show chocolate-coffee-clove notes after spending time in oak barrels, they are quite different wines that result from the two different grape varieties.
Do you refrigerate Tempranillo?
All wine should be stored, especially if you’re aging it for any length of time, at around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. However, once a bottle is open, re-corking it or sealing it with a device like a VacuVin, and then storing it in the fridge, will help preserve it for a bit longer. That’s the case with all wine—reds as well as whites. Just make sure to bring it back up to serving temperature before savoring a sip. Dry red wine right from the refrigerator is no fun at all!
How long does Tempranillo last once opened?
If you simply re-cork the bottle and place it on a counter, you should be able able to enjoy the remaining Tempranillo the next day, assuming the room it’s resting in overnight is not too warm. If you re-cork it and place it in the refrigerator, you should be okay for two days. And if you use a device like a VacuVin, which removes most of the air from the bottle, then three days is possible.
Does Tempranillo need to breathe?
In general, tannic wines like Tempranillo will benefit from a bit of air. Whether you decant it or not depends on the nature of that specific bottle. In general, however, allowing a glass of Tempranillo to breathe for a few minutes will work wonders, especially if you swirl it every so often, which will expose more of the wine to oxygen and open it up more quickly.
Is Crianza a Tempranillo?
Crianza is an age classification. In Rioja, Crianza means that the wine has aged for a minimum of a single year in oak barrels, and then several months in the bottle before it hits the market. Other categories of Rioja that you’re likely to see include Reserva and Gran Reserva.
What are popular brands of Tempranillo?
There are many excellent producers of Tempranillo and Total Wine & More has a fantastic selection. Among the most popular are Campo Viejo Rioja, Campo Viejo Tempranillo, Uro Toro La Enfermera Tempranillo, and Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva, among many others.
Browse our full selection of Tempranillo online or check out our selection of highly rated Tempranillo for a great new Tempranillo to try this week!
Want to learn more about Tempranillo?
Visit our Guide to Tempranillo to learn more about Tempranillo.
