If you’re looking for a pleasant, accessible wine, there isn’t a much better wine than a Tempranillo. Tempranillo is a bright, easy to detect, and widely varied food pairing wine that also tends to have a high-quality taste profile for its relatively low cost. Suppose you’ve never tasted Tempranillo before or only discovered it from limited circumstances; in that case, this article will quickly bring you up to date and reveal some tips on the somewhat elusive varietal.
Introduction of Tempranillo Wine
Tempranillo is one of the most remarkable varieties cultivated in Spain. It is most often associated with the Rioja region, which traditionally shies away from producing varietal wines. The grape used in Tempranillo wine has established itself as the number one grape in the country. Today, the grape is well known and widely used in Spain and Portugal and is used in many of its most famous wines, such as Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Riojas are grown in their vineyards and can blend them with other wines from other parts of Spain, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, or even Chardonnay, producing inexpensive table wines. Tempranillo is genuinely the noble grape of Spain, and although it may be difficult to produce reliably great wines over the years, it still has a big name in winemaking.
Although Tempranillo is considered native to Spain, it also plays a significant role in Portugal. It is known as Aragonez and is processed in Alentejo to blend red and table wines. Tempranillo’s grapes are not always grown in Spain or Portugal, but rather, in northern Brazil. Virtually, Tempranillo wine inherits the characteristics of its red grape and its oak wood, mixed with a slightly spicy, tangy finish. The resulting wine often exhibits very subtle flavors of plums, apples, red grapes, and even yeast. A full-bodied, complex flavor makes it a delightful wine for many different occasions. One can start with the most famous red wine regions in Spain. Firstly, the Cabernet Sauvignon region, and secondly Toro. It is not known as the rosé but is also a great wine.
Tempranillo Wine History
There are many fine wines from Chile’s South American neighbor, Tempranillo. The town of Tempranillo sits alongside the mighty River Douro and boasts vast vineyards throughout the lush region. One of the best things about Tempranillo wines is that they are generally good value for money. When the Tempranillo grape is grown in Duro, it is an integral part of the local port wines. When it flourishes in Rioja, it is blended with Carignan, and Grenache, both of which have low acidity and sugar content.
The grape is well known and widely used in Spain and Portugal and is used in many of its most famous wines, such as Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Ribera del Duero relies heavily on French grape varieties to complement them. If you have one, Tempranillo wine also benefits from a wine decanter, but you must be sure to decant the wine within an hour of serving.
Tempranillo wines are available across several price ranges, although the high-priced wines tend to be made from the wealthiest and most expensive varieties. Blended versions of these wines often maintain a high sugar content to balance out the blender’s high acidity levels.
Some people also purchase Tempranillo blended wines to experience both the blender’s crisp flavor and the original varietal’s full body. It is important to remember that all versions of blended Tempranillo wines are blended using the same grape variety. This grape is produced throughout most of the world, even in the eastern parts of South America.
Tempranillo Wine Variations
One popular variation on this theme is to make wine from the very red Gran Reserva grape, sometimes known as the ‘Queen of Chile’ due to its distinctive color. Another variation is to use the white varietal of this grape as a base for creating a unique sparkling wine known as ‘Sirenia.’ There are many variations to the blend. Still, all are rather delicious when served together. As for which regions are best suited for producing this wine, there are two main varieties planted in Spain today. The first is the Portugal brandy wine, which is essentially a blend of various white and black grapes. The second is the Tempranillo brandy, mostly from the same grape variety. It has been cross-bred with different red grapes planted in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Most wines from the region are dry. The crisp flavor of a good Tempranillo wine allows it to be consumed quite frankly. It pairs perfectly with seafood and can even be used as a base for salsas and dips. With the popularity of this particular varietal, there are many people claiming ownership of the trademark. The truth is that this particular grape variety is the result of cross-pollination from several other vineyards across the country. It results in an extremely difficult varietal to label a single-origin honestly. Based on some documentation, it has been determined that this cross-pollination occurred in California in the 1970s. No official documentation was available at the time. It is not sure how much of the ‘plant pollen’ actually reached the different vineyards. Or whether the wind carried it.
Conclusion
Given the fad for Tempranillo, one would expect it to be widespread in other parts of the world. Still, the real problem is that the boring wines produced from Spanish grape varieties have done little.
Tempranillo grape to be seriously checked when looking for great white wine. This high acidity level allows this grape to stand up to some of the most extreme climates. Whether you are looking for a milder varietal or a highly-acidic, alcoholic beverage, Tempranillo will fit your bill!