Varietal Intelligence · Red
Tempranillo
Leather, dried rose, cured tobacco. Spain's noble red.
Origin
Iberian Peninsula · medieval
Leather, dried rose, cured tobacco. Spain's noble red.
Tempranillo is Spain's defining grape, named for its tendency to ripen 'early' (temprano) ahead of the autumn rains. In Rioja, decades-long ageing in American oak yields its classic palate of leather, dried strawberry and warm vanilla; in Ribera del Duero, higher altitudes give it sterner tannins and darker fruit.
Flavor Profile
The grape, measured.
Six axes describe how the wine sits on the palate. Hover for sommelier notation.
Region Atlas
Where it thrives.
Hover any pin to read the regional dialect. Climate zones are read in tone.
Continental · Spain
Rioja
American oak, dried rose, leather.
Sommelier Insights
At the table, in the glass.
Roast suckling pig · Manchego with quince · Jamón Ibérico · Lamb chuletillas
16–18 °C
Gran Reserva: 45 minutes. Younger Crianza: open and pour.
Crianza: 4–8 years. Reserva: 8–15. Gran Reserva: 15–30.
Old Rioja library vintages (1964, 1981, 2001, 2010) are quietly under-priced.
Look for the dried-strawberry / sweet vanilla combination — Rioja's calling card.
Sommelier-Level Note
"The American-oak / French-oak choice is Rioja's identity argument right now. Both have their virtues; pick your camp."
— The Wine Passport · House Tasting Note
Related Discoveries
Bottles, journeys, kindred grapes.
Recommended bottles
Suggested journeys
- Rioja: oak, time and rose6 pours · Rioja
- Iberia, top to bottom5 pours · Iberia
Kindred grapes
Your Palate
The grape, against your record.
Tasting trend
Your palate's affinity for Tempranillo, year on year.