Tempranillo
pronunciation: Tehm prah NEE yoSynonyms: Tinto del País, Tinto de Toro, Ull de Llebre, Ojo de Liebre, Tinto Fino, Tinta Roriz, Aragonez, Cencibel, Tinto Madrid, and a few more
Where it's Grown: It is Spain’s most famous grape and is grown all over but is really prime from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Great value is found in the area of Madrid and southern Spain. You will also find it in the red wines of the Douro and Alentejo in Portugal.
What to Expect: Tempranillo comes in many styles but has a relative consistency of flavor. It has a remarkable ability to maintain a tart red fruit character similar to raspberry or cherry while being as ripe tasting as dried cherry and fruit compote. At the highest level of quality the wines are seemless and rich, but not thick, with dark cherry, pomegranate syrup and black plum that is usually accented by the caramel and spice from oak aging. At the lower price tier, the wines are more cherry driven with red plums, and will still have some influence of caramel and spice. The other wonderful character that comes with Tempranillo is the smell of saddle leather.
