03/21/07 Temeranillo

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. Each week I look for a wine term or a grape varietal that you might not be familiar. On a recent trip my companions asked me what Tempranillo meant, so today, let's chat about the wine grape Tempranillo. Tempranillo popped up on a recent vacation in Mexico, when we had a Mexican wine, which was a blend of Syrah and Tempranillo. Tempranillo is the primary red grape of northern and central Spain. It is a grape which, as in Mexico, is usually blended with other grapes such as Grenache and even Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a grape that contributes lower acidity but lots of deep rich color and flavor. It is in fact the principle grape in the Spanish wine you are likely familiar called Rioja. Although, in the case of inexpensive Rioja sometimes I don't think it really shows off its greatest attributes. Some Rioja can be blended a bit too light and then over oaked, making it less than a great example of Tempranillo. But in the case of the blending of Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah as in Mexico, it really worked. The Tempranillo helped keep the alcohol down and really lifted the acidity in wines that were made from obviously very ripe fruit. Tempranillo is grown in other South American wine regions besides Mexico, and I think I will look for more red table wines that include Tempranillo in the blend. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.