A Tour of Wine Grapes: Tempranillo

Tempranillo 🍷 Photo by Holger Casselmann on Wikimedia Commons Tempranillo is a red wine grape with a history that dates back over 2,000 years, likely introduced to Spain by the Phoenicians. The name comes from the Spanish word  "temprano,"  meaning early, because this grape ripens weeks before most other Spanish red varieties. Spain is its primary homeland, particularly in the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions, where it is used in the country's most famous red wines. Beyond Spain, Tempranillo is grown in Portugal (where it is often called Tinta Roriz and used in Port wine production), as well as in California, Australia, and Argentina. Tempranillo features a distinct range of aromas and tastes. Freshly made versions are fruit-driven, offering clear flavors of red cherry, plum, and tomato. When the wine is aged in oak barrels, it transforms and picks up savory notes of vanilla, tobacco, leather, and clove. It has a medium-to-full body with notic

by Marc Kirkpatrick · source ↗