Tempranillo Versatility is its virtue

Tempranillo can be construed as a rockstar among the grapes. This black
grape variety is the native of Spain. It has been known by different names
from Portugal to Spain but the ruby red wines which are produced by this
grape remain fabulous throughout geographies.

Sommelier Nikhil Surve 

When you get down to drinking glasses of silky-spicy varietal of Tempranillo, you are having a date with one of the most versatile grape varieties which is known for its supple tannin and gentle acidity. The grape leads to wellstructured wines that can be aged extraordinarily well.

Its flvaours open up like wonders. It is a savoury grape that gives out flavours like plum, ripe strawberries and black-cherry, and with added oak influence it can come up with flavours like vanilla, dill, coconut and caramel.

Early Ripening Grape

Tempranillo is said to be first documented in the poem Libro de Alexandre by the plural Las Tempraniellas, which was published in the 13th century. Tempranillo is derived from the Spanish word ‘Temprano,’ which means ‘early.’ The grape is so named because of its quality of early ripening as compared to most of the grapes in southern Europe. Rioja and Ribera del Duero in Spain are notable growing regions for this grape.

Recent research on Tempranillo has revealed that the grape has its DNA linked to Albillo Mayer from Ribera Del Duero, where the Tempranillo has been known by the name of Tinta del Pais traditionally. In Portugal, Tempranillo has been grown for centuries and has been known by the name of Tinta Roriz in Douro and by Aragones in Alentejo.

From Spain and Beyond

Though various countries are producing Tempranillo grapes now but according to me one country that has placed Tempranillo wines on the world’s wine map is Spain. It all started when France was hit by a dreadful disease, which affected directly its vine roots and crippled them. The French were readily buying Spanish wines in bulk and bottling them in France.

French winemakers brought their advanced wine making techniques to Spain. Those techniques helped Spanish wines and specifically Rioja wine. When all these were happening, Bordeaux trained Marques de Riscal and Marques de Murrieta returned from Bordeaux to Rioja with lessons from Medoc, which did include barrique ageing and estate bottling. However, they altered the use of French barriques to American oak; that decision was taken to keep financial aspects in mind.

Tempranillo grape is now being grown in various countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Australia. But one of the most expensive and age worthy Tempranillo is found in Rioja, Spain. In Rioja, the wines from Tempranillo grape have a unique classification where the wine is classified based on oak ageing and not on the unique character of the land. But the terroir matters as well.

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