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Tempranillo Red Wine

Tempranillo is a variety of red grape original of Spain. It is the principal grape used in La Rioja, and the most used in Spain. Its name comes from the diminutive of "early", refering to the fact that matures before that most of the red grape... varieties in Spanish.

It is also known by other names; aragón, aragonêz or Aragonese (in Portugal), with variations aragonez da Ferra and aragonez de Elvas), arauxa (Orense), arganda, arinto dye; cencibel (in la Mancha - Cuenca, Guadalajara and Ciudad Real-, as well as Madrid and its variations: cencibel chinchillana, cencibera, sensibel, chinchillaza (Badajoz), chinchillana (Estremadura), chinchillano and chinchilyano; cupani, Spanish broom (in Badajoz), garnacho foño (in South America), Garnacha of Logrono (this is, "Grenache of Logrono "); jacibera and its variations: jaciuera and jacivera; juan garcía, Morisca (Caceres), negra de mesa, negrall, olho of lebre, Palomino negro(Cadiz), Piñuela (Toledo), ull of llebre (Catalonia), valdepeñas (also in California) or aldepenas, verdiell (Catalonia) and vid de Aranda (Burgos).

Mention apart is deserved by the grape " Tinta de Toro " (or " Tinto de Toro "), variety from Zamora of the Denomination of Origin Toro which in fact is also Tempranillo. This synonymy is doubted by many experts). Nevertheless, DNA studies developed by Madrid Institute of Agrarian and Food Investigation(Research) (IMIA) in the year 2000, established in an incontrovertible way that Tinta de Toro was genetically, Tempranillo.

Tempranillo is used in coupages, with 90 % of the blend. Less frequently it is bottled as a single varietal wine. Low in acidity and also low in sugar , it is used to me blended with Grenache, Mazuela, Graciano, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. when with Mazuela is a more brilliant and acid wine. In Australia, the tempranillo is blended with Grenache and Syrah. In Portugal, where is known as Tinta roriz, it is a principal grape in the production of some Ports.
Tempranillo wines can be comsumed young, but the most expensive age for several years in oak casks. The wines have a ruby red color, with aromas of berries, plum, tobacco, vanilla, leather and grass.

Tempranillo grapes produce a must with a good balance in sugar, color and acidity, though acidity sometimes can be scanty. The wine possesses a frank palate, interesting when young and velvety when it ages. It is considered to be a preferential variety and for some years it is the most extended variety in the Rioja.D.O. In general lines, the best wines made of Tempranillo are produced in areas of high sunstroke with very cold nights. In these conditions higher alcoholic graduations and a good acidity are achieved which allows to obtain wines of the highest quality.