How is Tempranillo wine made?
Tempranillo is made like most red wines: ripe grapes are destemmed and crushed, fermented with their skins to get color and tannin, pressed, then usually aged in oak before bottling. In Spain, how long it ages in oak and bottle sets the label (Joven, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva). Most Tempranillo is dry.
Free download
Home Bar Storage Chart (PDF): How long liqueurs, spirits, wine and mixers last, opened and unopened. 25 rows, each with its source.
Thank you
Your chart is ready
We use your email only for this download.Also free:
Milk and Dairy Storage Chart (PDF)Juice, Soda and Water Storage Chart (PDF)Coffee, Tea and Hot Drinks Storage Chart (PDF)Drink Strength, Calories and Units Cheat Sheet (PDF)Want the full pack? About 10 printable sheets: a larger chart for each drink type, a “has it gone off?” checklist, date labels, a party planner and an inventory sheet.
In this article
How is Tempranillo wine made step by step?
- Harvest. Black, thick-skinned grapes are picked when ripe, often in early autumn in Spain.
- Destem and crush. The grapes are separated from stems and lightly crushed.
- Fermentation on the skins. Yeast turns sugar into alcohol for days to weeks. The skins give color, tannin and flavor; in tanks the juice is pumped over the skins.
- Pressing. The new wine is drained and the skins pressed.
- Aging. Many Tempranillos rest in oak barrels, then bottle. Some are bottled young to keep fresh fruit.
- Blending and bottling. Some winemakers blend with Garnacha, Graciano or Mazuelo.
What do Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva mean?
These Spanish terms relate to minimum aging time. Commonly cited rules for Rioja and Ribera del Duero are about 2 years total for Crianza (at least 1 year in oak), 3 years for Reserva and 5 years for Gran Reserva (at least 2 in barrel). Exact rules differ by region and by red or white, so check the consejo regulador for the region you buy from. Joven means little or no oak aging.
What does Tempranillo mean?
The name comes from the Spanish word temprano, meaning early, because the grape ripens earlier than many Spanish red varieties.
Where is Tempranillo grown?
Mostly Spain, with Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Navarra and La Mancha among its main regions. In Portugal it is called Aragonez or Tinta Roriz (Alentejo, Douro). It is also grown in California, Oregon, Texas, Australia, Argentina and Chile.
Is Tempranillo dry? What does it taste like?
It is usually a dry, medium to full-bodied red. Typical notes are plum, cherry, strawberry, tobacco, leather and vanilla from oak. Young bottles taste fruity; aged ones taste softer and more savory. The grape is fairly neutral, so oak and climate shape the style a lot.
Alcohol is usually around 13 to 14.5 percent but varies by wine; read the label.
People also ask
Is Tempranillo wine dry?
Usually yes. Most Tempranillo is a dry red, though some wines seem sweet because of ripe fruit or vanilla oak.
Where is Tempranillo grown?
Mainly Spain (Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Navarra), plus Portugal (as Aragonez or Tinta Roriz), the US, Australia and Argentina.
What does Tempranillo mean?
It comes from temprano, Spanish for early, as the grape ripens early.
About · How we verify this · Editorial policy · Corrections
What would help you most next?
One tap. Anonymous. It helps us decide what to build.
Thank you. The free charts above are yours to keep.
