Tempranillo

Tempranillo (also known as Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinto Fino and Tinta del Pais in Spain, Aragonez or Tinta Roriz in Portugal, and several other synonyms elsewhere) is a black grape variety widely grown to make full-bodied red wines in its native Spain.[1][2] Its name is the diminutive of the Spanish temprano ("early"), a reference to the fact that it ripens several weeks earlier than most Spanish red grapes. Tempranillo has been grown on the Iberian Peninsula since the time of Phoenician settlements. It is the main grape used in Rioja, and is often referred to as Spain's noble grape. The grape has been planted throughout the globe's wine regions.

For the white mutation of this grape variety, see Tempranillo blanco.
Tempranillo
Grape (Vitis)
Tempranillo in Viala & Vermorel
Color of berry skinNoir
SpeciesVitis vinifera
Also calledCencibel, Tinta Roriz (more)
OriginSpain
Original pedigreeBenedicto × Albillo
Pedigree parent 1Benedicto
Pedigree parent 2Albillo
Notable regionsRioja, Spain
Ribera del Duero, Spain (more)
Notable winesVega Sicilia Bodegas López de Heredia
HazardsRot
VIVC number12350
Ripening Tempranillo grapes
Tempranillo leaf

In 2015, Tempranillo was the fourth most widely planted wine grape variety worldwide with 232,561 hectares (574,670 acres) under vine, of which 87% was in Spain where it is the most planted red grape variety.[3]

Unlike more aromatic red wine varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Pinot noir, Tempranillo has a relatively neutral profile so it is often blended with other varieties, such as Grenache and Carignan (known in Rioja as Mazuelo), or aged for extended periods in oak where the wine easily takes on the flavor of the barrel. Varietal examples of Tempranillo usually exhibit flavors of plum and strawberries.[4]

Tempranillo is an early ripening variety that tends to thrive in chalky vineyard soils such as those of the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. In Portugal, where the grape is known as Tinto Roriz and Aragonez, it is blended with others to produce port wine.[4]

History and mutation

For some time, Tempranillo was thought to be related to the Pinot noir grape. According to legend, Cistercian monks left Pinot noir cuttings at monasteries along their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. However, ampelographic studies have shown no genetic connection between the cultivars.[5][6]

Spanish cultivation of Vitis vinifera, the common ancestor of almost all vines in existence today, began in earnest with Phoenician settlement in the southern provinces. Later, according to the Roman writer Columella, wines were grown all over Spain; yet there are only scattered references to the name "Tempranillo". Ribera del Duero wine making extends back over 2,000 years, as evidenced by the 66-metre mosaic of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, that was unearthed in 1972, at Baños de Valdearados.[7]

It is possible that this grape was introduced to the Western Hemisphere by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 17th century, as certain Criolla varieties in Argentina have a closer genetic relationship to Tempranillo than to a small handful of other European varieties against which the Criolla varieties were tested.[8] Despite its apparent fragility, Tempranillo travelled widely during the 20th century and, following much trial and error, has become established throughout the world. In 1905, Frederic Bioletti brought Tempranillo to California where it received a cool reception not only due to the encroaching era of Prohibition, but also because of the grape's dislike of hot, dry climates. It was much later, during the 1980s, that Californian Tempranillo wine production began to flourish, following the establishment of suitably mountainous sites. Production in this area has more than doubled since 1993.[9]

During the 1990s, Tempranillo started experiencing a renaissance in wine production worldwide. This surge began partly as a result of the efforts of a 'new wave' of Spanish growers who showed that it was possible to produce wines of great character and quality in areas outside of the Rioja region. One result of this has been that Tempranillo varietal wines have become more common, especially in the better-suited, cooler Spanish regions like Ribera del Duero, Navarra, and Penedès (DO). During the 1990s, growers in Australia and South Africa started significant Tempranillo plantations.

Viticulture

Tempranillo is a black grape with a thick skin.[1] It grows best at relatively high altitudes, but it also can tolerate a much warmer climate.[10] With regard to Tempranillo's production in various climates, wine expert Oz Clarke notes:

To get elegance and acidity out of Tempranillo, you need a cool climate. But to get high sugar levels and the thick skins that give deep color you need heat. In Spain these two opposites are best reconciled in the continental climate but high altitude of the Ribera del Duero.[11]

Tempranillo vines in Penedès region, Barcelona Province

In the Ribera del Duero the average July temperature is around 21.4° Celsius (70.5° Fahrenheit),[12] though temperatures in the middle of the day in the lower valley can jump as high as 40 °C (104 °F). At night the region experiences a dramatic diurnal temperature variation, with temperatures dropping by as much as 16 °C (30 °F) from the daytime high. The Tempranillo grape is one of the few grapes that can adapt and thrive in continental Mediterranean climates like this.[13]

Pests and diseases are a serious problem for this grape variety, since it has little resistance to either. The grape forms compact, cylindrical bunches of spherical, deep blue-black fruit with a colourless pulp. The leaves are large with five overlapping lobes.[14]

The Tempranillo root absorbs potassium easily, which facilitates pH levels of 3.6 in the pulp and 4.3 in the skin when it reaches maturity. If it absorbs too much potassium, the must becomes salified (increased levels of salt), which slows the disappearance of malic acid, resulting in a higher pH. The skin does not present any herbaceous characters. The grape is very susceptible to inclement weather, contracting when there is a drought and swelling when there is too much humidity. The swelling has a negative effect on quality since it affects the colour of the wine. The effects of the weather are attenuated in places with limestone because of the effect of the clay and humidity in the roots; the effects are worse in sandy areas, as well as for vines that are less than twelve years old, as the roots are generally too superficial.[15]

Wines
A Tempranillo varietal wine in a glass, showing typically intense purple colouring

Tempranillo wines are ruby red in colour, while aromas and flavours can include berries, plum, tobacco, vanilla, leather and herb.[16] Often making up as much as 90% of a blend, Tempranillo is less frequently bottled as a single varietal. Being low in both acidity and sugar content, it is most commonly blended with Grenache (known as Garnacha in Spain), Carignan (known as Mazuela in Spain), Graciano, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Blending the grape with Carignan makes a brighter and more acidic wine.[1] Tempranillo is the major component of the typical Rioja blends and constitutes 90-100% of Ribera del Duero wines.[1] In Australia, Tempranillo is blended with Grenache and Shiraz, also known as Syrah. In Portugal, where it is known as Tinta Roriz, it is a major grape in the production of some Port wines.[17]

Regions
A Reserva level Rioja.

Spain

Spain grows 87% of the world's Tempranillo, and it is Spain's most planted red grape variety with 201,051 hectares (496,810 acres) grown in 2015, accounting for 42% of the red grape plantings, surpassed only by the white grape variety Airén.[3] Tempranillo is native to northern Spain and widely cultivated as far south as Andalusia. The two major regions that grow Tempranillo are Rioja, in north central Spain, and Ribera del Duero, which lies a little farther to the south.[3] Substantial quantities are also grown in the Penedès, Navarra and Valdepeñas regions.[16]

Tempranillo is known under a number of local synonyms in different regions of Spain: "Cencibel" and "Tinto Fino" are used in several regions, and it is known as "Tinta del País" in Ribera del Duero and the surrounding area, "Tinta de Toro" in Toro, and "Ull de llebre" in Catalonia.

Portugal

The grape plays a role in the production of wines in two regions of Portugal, central Alentejo and Douro. In Alentejo Central it is known as Aragonez and used in red table wine blends of variable quality, while in the Douro it is known as Tinta Roriz and mainly used in blends to make port wine.[17]

New World production
The original 1993 planting of Tempranillo at Red Willow Vineyard in Washington state.

Tempranillo arrived in California bearing the name Valdepeñas, and it was grown in the Central Valley at the turn of the 20th century. Since the climate of the Central Valley was not ideal for the grape, it was used as a blending grape for jug wine.[1] California has since started to use it for fine wines, particularly in Napa and Monterey. In Texas, the soils of the High Plains and Hill Country have been compared to those of northern Spain. Tempranillo has been well received in Texas and has grown to be considered the state's signature grape.[18][19]

In Oregon, the grape was introduced by Earl Jones of Abacela Vineyards and Winery,[20] in the Umpqua Valley AVA.[1] Their climate (hot during the summer day, and cool overnight) seems to be perfect for the Tempranillo grape. In Australia Tempranillo is grown in the McLaren Vale region, and also North East Victoria.[21] Tempranillo has also been introduced by some wine producers in Thailand.[22] The varietal is extensively grown in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.

In Washington state, Tempranillo was one of the varieties pioneered in the state by Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA with its first commercial planting of the variety in 1993.[23]

Synonyms
Label showing both Tempranillo and the synonym used in Catalonia, Ull de Llebre.

Tempranillo is known by other names in certain regions. These include:

Albillo Negro, Aldepenas, Aragon, Aragones, Aragonez, Aragonez 51, Aragonez da Ferra, Aragonez de Elvas, Arganda, Arinto Tinto, Cencibel, Cencibera, Chinchillana, Chinchillano, Chinchilyano, Cupani, De Por Aca, Escobera, Garnacho Fono, Grenache de Logrono, Jacibera, Jacibiera, Jacivera, Juan Garcia, Negra de Mesa, Negretto, Ojo de Liebre, Olho de Lebre, Pinuela, Sensibel, Tempranilla, Tempranillo de la Rioja, Tempranillo de Perralta, Tempranillo de Rioja, Tempranillo de Rioza, Tempranillo Rioja, Tinta Aragones, Tinta Corriente, Tinta de Madrid, Tinta de Santiago, Tinta de Toro, Tinta do Inacio, Tinta do Pais, Tinta Fina, Tinta Madrid, Tinta Monteira, Tinta Monteiro, Tinta Roris, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Santiago, Tinto Aragon, Tinto Aragonez, Tinto de la Ribera, Tinto de Madrid, Tinto de Rioja, Tinto de Toro, Tinto del Pais, Tinto del Toro, Tinto Fino, Tinto Madrid, Tinto Pais, Tinto Ribiera, Tinto Riojano, Ull de Liebre, Ull de Llebre, Valdepenas, Verdiell, Vid de Aranda.[24]

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See also

References
  1. Manuel, Dennis (25 June 2001). "Tempranillo". Supermarketguru.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009.
  2. González-Flores D, Gamero E, Garrido M, Ramírez R, Moreno D, Delgado J, Valdés E, Barriga C, Rodríguez A.B, Paredes S.D. (2012). "Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin and total antioxidant capacity increase after the intake of a grape juice cv. Tempranillo stabilized with HHP". Food & Function 3: 34-39. doi:[10.1039/c1fo10146c].
  3. Driscoll, Killian. "Guide to the wine grape varieties in Spain". www.artobatours.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  4. Wine & Spirits Education Trust "Wine and Spirits: Understanding Wine Quality" pgs 6-9, Second Revised Edition (2012), London, ISBN 9781905819157
  5. Nesto, Bill (December 2004). "Spain's great indigenous grape variety Tempranillo". Massachusetts Beverage Business. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  6. "Protagonista: La Tempranillo". Federación Española de Asociaciones de Enólogos. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  7. Morales, Manuel (1 January 2012). "Thieves take chisel to Roman mosaic". El Pais (English edition). Madrid: Ediciones El Pais. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  8. Martinez, Liliana; Cavagnaro, Pablo; Masuelli, Ricardo; Rodríguez, José (15 December 2003). "Evaluation of diversity among Argentine grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties using morphological data and AFLP markers". Electronic Journal of Biotechnology. 6 (3). doi:10.2225/vol6-issue3-fulltext-11. ISSN 0717-3458.
  9. Theron, Charl (July 2006). "Is Tempranillo the next superstar of the new wine world?". Wynboer. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  10. Perkins, Sid (29 May 2004). "Global Vineyard. Can technology take on a warming climate?". Science News. 165 (22): 347–349. doi:10.2307/4015089. JSTOR 4015089.
  11. Clarke, Oz (2001). Encyclopedia of Grapes. Harcourt Books. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-15-100714-1.
  12. Johnson, Hugh; Robinson, Jancis (2005). The World Atlas of Wine. Mitchell Beazley Publishing. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-84000-332-1.
  13. Robinson, Jancis, ed. (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine (third ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 576. ISBN 978-0-19-860990-2.
  14. "Wine Grapes of California:Tempranillo" (PDF). University of California at Davis. p. 151.
  15. Hernández, Manuel Ruiz (1999). "Variedad Tempranillo" (in Spanish). www.arrakis.com.
  16. Robinson, Jancis, ed. (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine (third ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 691–2. ISBN 978-0-19-860990-2.
  17. Mayson, Richard (2004). Port and the Douro. London: Mitchell Beazley. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-84000-943-9.
  18. Dupuy, Jessica (15 April 2010), "Texas Wine of the Month: Inwood Estates "Cornelious" Tempranillo, 2007", Texas Monthly, Dallas: Emmis Publishing, retrieved 18 April 2012
  19. Dupuy, Jessica; Howard, Tracy (July–August 2011), "Deep in the Heart Exploring Austin's growing grape scene", Imbibe Magazine, Portland, OR, archived from the original on 26 May 2012, retrieved 18 April 2012
  20. "Abacela - Homepage".
  21. Lorkin, Yvonne (2 May 2012). "Wine: Toiling behind the Vale". Bay of Plenty Times. Tauranga, New Zealand: APN Holdings. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  22. Bianco, Cassandra (18 November 2011). "Tempranillos al Mundo reveals winning wines of 2011". Federación Española de Asociaciones de Enólogos. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  23. P. Gregutt "Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide" pgs 17-38, 61-75, 107-109 University of California Press 2007 ISBN 0-520-24869-4
  24. Maul, Erika; Töpfer, Reinhard; Eibach, Rudolf (2007). "Vitis International Variety Catalogue". Siebeldingen, Germany: Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof (IRZ). Retrieved 17 May 2012.
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