I just love the grape varietal Tempranillo. Now, unless you’re a big wine connoisseur, you may not have heard about this grape variety before. Let me break down the facts for you.

Tempranillo is the backbone of some of the best Spanish wines. This red grape variety is generally grown throughout Spain and Portugal. Tempranillo produces a red wine with red fruit and leather aromas, high tannins, moderate to low acidity, and moderate alcohol levels.

Now for some quick facts. Did you know that in 2020 Tempranillo was the third most-planted grape variety in the world? Or did you know that Tempranillo is Spain’s number one red wine grape? It might go without saying that the grape variety has roots from Spain where the name translates to “little early one,” a name given to it by growers who observed its habit of ripening earlier than other varieties. In fact, many red wines have Tempranillo at their core.

Although the grape variety is often accused of lacking its own tell-tale flavor profile, Tempranillo wines can produce a wide range of aromas, ranging from strawberries, blackcurrants, and cherries to prunes, chocolate, leather, and tobacco depending on vineyard age and region.

When it comes to food pairing, bolder-aged Tempranillo wines pair well with steak, fancy burgers, and even lamb. Fresher styles match well with cheesy baked pasta and other tomato-based dishes.

And now that you’re hungry, might I suggest snagging our wine of the month. Yes, you guessed it–our wine of the month is the 2018 Tempranillo!

Cheers,
Natalie