Tempranillo Day

Tempranillo is a thick-skinned, black grape that is widely planted throughout the Iberian Peninsula.  It is the driving force behind red wines from the Ribera del Duero, La Rioja, and other winemaking regions throughout Spain. The Phoenicians first brought vines to the Iberian Peninsula more than 3,000 years ago, but it was the Cistercian monks of the Middle Ages who helped shape the region’s winemaking traditions. Their influence lives on today in Ribera del Duero's historic vineyards, hillside cellars, and beautifully crafted wines.

Tempranillo means “little early one” because of the grape’s propensity for ripening early. Wines made from Tempranillo range in a variety of styles depending on oak barrel aging. Many upstart, younger producers are utilizing different vessels to vinify for contrast. Wines range from young and fruity to complex, earthy, and age-worthy.  Common flavors include cherry, plum, dried fig, tobacco, and leather.  

In Ribera del Duero, Tempranillo goes by two local names: Tinto Fino or Tinta del País, the raw material for crafting wines with remarkable concentration, structure, and aging potential. Add Ribera’s high-altitude vineyards, dramatic temperature swings, and limestone-rich soils, and you have a recipe for Tempranillo with attitude, character, and personality.

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