Tempranillo Crianza (Spain)
Tempranillo is the grape behind the famous Rioja wines of Spain.
Typical Flavors
 Red Cherry |
 Black Cherry |
 Raspberry |
 Blackberry |
 Blueberry |
 Plum |
 Spices |
 Herbs |
Oak Added Flavors:
 Vanilla |
 Cocoa |
 Tobacco |
 Caramel |
Cherries, Red and Black Berries, and Plum are typical Tempranillo flavors.
Hints of Herbs and Spices (Licorice, Anise).
American oak is the traditional choice for oaking Tempranillo.
Profile
Tempranillo has good acidity and smooth tannins:
| BODY | Medium | ||
| TANNINS | Medium | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium - High | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Tapas |
 Ham |
 Chorizo |
 Chili |
 Pasta |
 Pizza |
 Lasagna |
 Hamburger |
 Chicken |
 Rabbit |
 Pork |
 Lamb |
Tempranillo is perfect with Lamb and Pork.
It is also perfect with Filet Mignon, but lacks the tannins for a fat Beef.
Young Tempranillo pairs well with both Spicy and Tomato based dishes.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Tapas. Olives. Cold Cuts. Chorizo.
Pizza. Spaghetti. Lasagna.
Tomato Based Meatballs.
Savory Stews. Moroccan Tagine.
Poultry. Pork. Lamb.
Red Pepper Dishes.
Tacos. Nachos. Burritos.
Cheese.
Soft Cheese.
Asiago. Cheddar. Emmental. Gauda. Hallumi.
Spanish Specialities:
Paella.
Chili con Carne.
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The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for a bodied red wine.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
About Tempranillo
Tempranillo is the third most planted grape in the world.
The name comes from Spanish "temprano" which means early and refers to early ripening.
Tempranillo aka Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, and Tinta del Pais in Spain. Aragonez or Tinta Roriz in Portugal.
Tempranillo is Spain`s noble grape variety, just like Cabernet Sauvignon is to France. It grows best in the cooler wine areas of Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
Wine made with Tempranillo grapes has a flavor of berries with medium acidity. During storing, Tempranillo can develop sweet, spicy, leather, or tobacco flavors.
Tempranillo wines are softer than Bordeax and dryer than Bourgogne wines. Medium acidity and moderate tannins make these wines tasty, easy to like and easy to pair with many types of food.