7 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TEMPRANILLO
88% of the world’s Tempranillo is planted in Spain, so we believe it is vital that our quintessential grape be known.
1. Our quintessential grape
Tempranillo is our noble grape variety. Some of the most emblematic Spanish wines have been made with this grape and it is the most well-known Spanish variety in other countries. It is a characteristic feature of two of the most renowned designations of origin in Spain: Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
Although the Arién grape is the most widely planted variety in Spain, Tempranillo is the most widely planted red grape. Together they account for 43.2% of the total Spanish wine-growing area, according to an OIVreport. Since the year 2000, the total area of vineyards devoted to Tempranillo has increased by 41.5%, although the total area of vineyards has decreased by 15% over the same period.
2. Tempranillo is not only found in Spain
This red grape variety is the fifth most widely planted grape variety in the world, and the fourth most widely used for winemaking, with over 231,000 hectares of vineyards planted.
But, while 88% of its production takes place in Spain, it can also be found in 17 other countries such as Australia, Portugal, France, the United States, Argentina, South Africa and Lebanon.
3. It has more than 20 different names
It is mainly known as Tempranillobut in Spain it also goes under the name of Cencibel, Tinta de Toro, Tinta del País, Tinto Fino, Ull de Llebre, Tinto de Madrid, Vid de Aranda, Grenache de Logroño, Jacivera, etc.
Outside of Spain we can also come across it as: Valdepeñas in the USA; Tempranilla in Argentina; Aragonez or Tinta Roriz in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Portugal,…
4. Why is it called Tempranillo?
It is a variety that sprouts and matures early, with a short growth cycle. The vines mature easily. It is a very fertile variety that only needs heat during the day and cool nights, so it obviously adapts to many regions of our country.
5. What are its wines like?
Los monovarietales de Tempranillo son vinos de gran calidad, equilibrados y aromáticos, de acidez y graduación alcohólica medias.
As we have mentioned on occasion, it is the sun and the land which defines the wine. For example, a Red Tempranillo from La Rioja will generally be medium to full bodied with aromas and flavours of cherries, spices, leather and a hint of earth. An Australian Tempranillo will tend to have more pronounced red fruit flavours, with a fuller body and a higher concentration of tannins.
What is indeed common to all regions of the world is that Tempranillo reds are high-quality wines which are very well-suited to ageing.
6. There’s also a white variety
There is also the white Tempranillo grape. Although it is not very common, it is gaining traction in La Rioja.
7. Alone or in a blend?
Wines made from the Tempranillo variety are exquisite both as a single variety as well as in a coupage. But if we had to choose a few varieties for coupages, they would be the following:
Red Grenache: it complements the Tempranillo thanks to its aromatic characteristics and body. These wines are more robust and spicy.
Carignan: a variety with a lot of tannins and high acidity. An ideal companion for Tempranillo to produce wines with a long ageing process, which are brighter and more acidic.
Graciano: in the same way as the Carignan grape, it brings a higher acidity to the Tempranillo and therefore produces ideal wines for ageing.
Right from the start, Reserva de la Tierra has been committed to this high-quality international variety. Some of its most emblematic wines are made from Tempranillo grapes, such as the Elegidored and rosé.