Tempranillo is a high-quality red grape variety widely grown in Spain, as well as in Portugal, Argentina, and the USA. This variety belongs to the late ripening period and is characterized by large, deeply lobed five-lobed leaves with webby down on the underside. Tempranillo berries are of medium size, round or slightly flattened, intensely black with a matte bloom and thin skin. The pulp is dense, which gives the wine richness and structure. The variety is sensitive to spring frosts and susceptible to grey rot due to its thin skin, while resistance to fungal diseases is at the level of other Vitis vinifera grape varieties.
Tempranillo is known as one of the best Spanish varieties, especially valued for its ability to create high-quality dry red wines. Wines from this variety differ by their rubino-red color and are rich in aromas of raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, plum, as well as notes of leather and vanilla. Thanks to its structure and aroma, wines from Tempranillo are suitable for long aging and develop beautifully in the bottle, acquiring complexity and depth of taste.
The homeland of the variety is considered the region of Rioja and Navarra in Spain, where it is particularly popular. In different regions of Spain, Tempranillo is known under different names: in Ribera del Duero as Tinto Fino, in La Mancha and Valdepeñas as Cencibel, and in Catalonia as Ull de Llebre. This variety is widely used for the production of various types of red wines and juice, which makes it universal and in demand in viticulture.
