Tempranillo
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Tempranillo is a variety of vitis vinifera, the red grape used commonly in winemaking. It is native to northern Spain, and widely cultivated in both northern and central Spain It is also fairly common in Argentina, and plays a minor role in the wines of two regions of Portugal, the central Alentejo, where it is known as Aragonez and used in red table wine blends of variable quality, and Douro, where it is known as Tinta Roriz and mainly used in blends to make port wine. It has recently started to appear 2001 in several wine regions in Australia, namely McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills.
Tempranillo does best in cooler grape growing regions, as it does not tolerate hot or dry weather well. Pests and diseases are a serious problem for this grape variety, since it is has little resistance to either.
Tempranillo is usually blended with other grape varieties, being low in both acid level and sugar content. It is the major component of the well-known and excellent Rioja wines. Its wines can be consumed when young, but are considered at their best when aged, especially when aged in oak. It is lightly coloured and ages well in American and sometimes French oak.
Tempranillo is known by numerous other names in the regions it is grown. In California, it is also known as Valdepeñas, which in other parts of the world is a Denominación de Origen for (Tempranillo-also called Cencibel)wines from the Valdepeñas region in Spain.
Until recently, some suspected that Tempranillo was related to the Pinot Noir grape, but recent genetic studies tend to discount this possibility.
External links
Reference
- Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst; Wine Lover's Companion; Barron's; ISBN 0-8120-1479-0 (paperback, 1995)
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