Tempranillo, as expressed in so many excellent Rioja wines, is a product of winemaking practices and rules of classification unique to that region. Tempranillo is a red grape variety which forms the backbone of some of the finest wines from Spain and Portugal. Tempranillo is also planted outside Spain, in Portugal (where it is known as Tinta Roriz in the Douro, and is a principal component of Port and as “Aragonêz” in the Alentejo region east of Lisbon) and extensively in Argentina. You'll find a greater selection in quality wine shops and online.
Two regions in Spain dominate the production – Ribera Del Duero and Rioja. Despite their close proximity, just like in the Left and Right Bank of Bordeaux, the style from both these areas differs significantly. There are 500,000+ acres of Tempranillo planted worldwide but Spain is the grape’s stomping grounds, accounting for at least half that acreage. (Recently, Rioja Baja was officially renamed Rioja Oriental, or Eastern Rioja, by Rioja’s Consejo Regulador.)
Tempranillo pairs well with all types of food because of its savory qualities.
I have long been a fan of Garnacha (or Grenache) for when I was newly married my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed wines made from this winegrape as a refreshing Summer rose. Tempranillo vs Rioja vs Malbec . Vintners in Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, Rioja’s other two subzones, source Garnacha grapes from this corridor to raise the alcohol levels of their wines. “The varietal wines, they are something very vulgar,” argues Rodríguez. In fact, in 1973, Tempranillo only represented 31% of Rioja’s vineyard space; Garnacha (Grenache), by contrast, occupied 39%. Tempranillo Food Pairing. Wines grown from the Tempranillo grape can come from a variety of places all over the world, including Australia, Argentina, and the Pacific Northwest. La densité de vignes par hectare est plus faible à cause d'un sol rocheux, pratique viticole qui favorise cette richesse. Tempranillo blanco was discovered in 1988 by a wine grower in a Tempranillo vineyard near Murillo de Río Leza in the La Rioja province of northern Spain. It is a mutation of the red Tempranillo grape variety that is planted in Rioja. Rioja Wine: From Crianza to Gran Reserva. While Tempranillo is a dark-skin variety used to produce red wine, the grower discovered that one of his vines had undergone a mutation that produced yellow-green clusters after veraison.. It the most planted red grape in Rioja, occupying 75% of the region and it thrives in Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. Read a Rioja label and you will find the terms crianza, reserva or gran reserva prominently displayed (but never together — just one at a time). Rioja vs. Ribera del Duero, Dueling Tempranillos Tempranillo has been a buzzword in international wine circles for decades, if not centuries, as the star grape behind what are two of the Spain’s most famous wine regions, Rioja and Ribera del Duero. In Ribera del Duero, it is usually bottled by itself and it is here that the finest expression of the grape is shown. Rioja is Spain’s most famous wine and perfect for those that also love wines like cabernet sauvignon. History. Then it was time for the blind tasting. Tempranillo blanco is a white Spanish wine grape variety that is grown in the Rioja Denominación de Origen (DOC). Our Tempranillo reviews will give you a general idea what to expect from wines made from Tempranillo, and will help you find one that best suits your needs. Wine 101: Rioja & Tempranillo. Tempranillo can often be found in the red wine section of grocery stores, wine shops, and liquor stores. Rioja vs Ribera. In the Rioja region, Tempranillo is blended with small amounts of Carignan (~10%) to increase the acidity of the wine. Look for tempranillo on the label or the words "Rioja" or "Tinta Roriz." In Rioja, high elevation, a northerly location, smatterings of limestone soil, and a minor maritime climatic influence conspire to generate the most elegant, fleet-footed expression of Tempranillo. If you love the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon but the fruitiness of Grenache then you’ll love Tempranillo.. Tempranillo is a big wine with high tannin that buddies up to any piece of rich meat. However, that often may include Tempranillo grapes. Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero is typically higher in alcohol content with black fruit notes. That being said, riojas are exclusively produced in the Spanish region of Rioja and must follow strict guidelines for aging if they possess that name. tannin). Rioja is arguably the easiest to find and recommended when first wading into Spanish wine.