Tempranillo

Tempranillo is Spain’s most celebrated red grape, prized for its balance of ripe fruit, savoury character and elegant structure. Its flavours often include cherry, plum and red berries, accompanied by dried herbs, tobacco, leather and warm spice. Naturally moderate acidity and fine, persistent tannins give Tempranillo a rounded texture while allowing the best wines to develop beautifully with age.

The variety is most famously associated with Rioja and Ribera del Duero, although it is grown throughout Spain under several regional names, including Tinto Fino, Tinta del País and Ull de Llebre. It also has an important presence in Portugal, where it is known as Tinta Roriz or Aragonez, and increasingly appears in Australia and other warm, dry wine regions.

Tempranillo can produce an impressive range of styles. Younger wines tend to be fresh, juicy and driven by bright red fruit, while extended maturation can introduce deeper flavours of dried fruit, cedar, spice and earth. Contemporary winemakers are also creating lighter, more energetic expressions through earlier picking, gentle extraction and restrained use of oak, revealing the grape’s fragrance and natural vibrancy.

At the table, Tempranillo is wonderfully adaptable. Its combination of fruit, savoury detail and measured tannin complements grilled meats, roast vegetables, mushrooms, tomato-based dishes, charcuterie and firm cheeses. Whether youthful and lively or mature and contemplative, Tempranillo offers depth, warmth and an enduring sense of place.