 Virtually all winemaking grapes come from the species Vitis vinifera. While there are over 10,000 documented varieties of Vitis vinifera, only roughly 200 varieties have significance in the world of fine wines. And of these, only a handful are considered classic varieties—what some refer to as a “Noble Grape”. Tempranillo is Spain’s indigenous “Noble Grape.” In fact, in the “Oxford Companion to Wine” Jancis Robinson says that tempranillo is “Spain’s answer to Cabernet Sauvignon.” Tempranillo is the centerpiece of fine Spanish Rioja wines as well as the “new age” wines coming from the Ribera del Duero and Toro regions. Legend has is that Tempranillo was brought to Spain by French monks on pilgrimage from Burgundy to Santiago de Compostele, and that it is a variant of Pinot Noir. The latter claim has never been substantiated and research indicates that it is more likely that Tempranillo originated in northern Spain and then spread to the rest of the country. What is not in question is that Tempranillo is the superstar of Spanish grapes, and one with a sometimes confusing array of different names, at least in Spain. While known by its international name “Tempranillo” in La Rioja, it is called “Cencibel” in La Mancha and Valdepenas; “Ull de Liebre” (eye of the hare) in Catalonia; “Tinta de Pais” or “Tinto Fino” in Ribera del Duero and “Tinta de Toro” in, of course, Toro. Tempranillo takes its name from the Spanish word “Temprano”, which means “early”, a reference to the fact that this grape variety ripens sooner than many other traditional varieties. It buds late and needs only a relatively short growing season with hot days and cool nights to preserve the fruit’s acidity. A vigorous vine, Tempranillo is best suited to chalky or sandy clay slopes which are not too arid. The thick skinned, deep blue-black berries are high in color and extract. Tempranillo can be enjoyed immediately or it can make wines that are very elegant, with great structure and aging potential. While Tempranillo has always been prominent in Spanish wines, it has only recently begun to appear in U.S. wines. Keep in mind that Spain has approximately 4.5 million acres planted in vines (more than any other country) and it is the third largest producer of wine in the world. There are currently over 100,000 acres of Tempranillo planted in Spain. By comparison, it is estimated that there are currently less than 1,000 acres of Tempranillo planted in the United States. However, Tempranillo seems particularly well suited to southern Oregon’s climate, with over 100 acres currently planted and that figure continuing to increase. |
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