Wine for the Weekend of 11/22/19

Tempranillo is the Wine for the Weekend of 11/22/19

Tempranillo is the wine for the weekend of 11/22/19 because it is one of Spain’s most widely planted grape varieties. These wines are made in many regions of Spain. The most popular are Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Let us focus on these regions. Many of these wines are blended with Spain’s other popular grape varieties. The most prominent is Garnacha (Grenache) and Mazuela (Carignan). Tempranillo wines come in several styles as well.

Tempranillo Wines and Styles

The most common style is Crianza. These reds require 2 years of aging with 6 months in oak. Traditionally, producers use American oak which imparts more flavors than other types of oak. Secondly, Reservas are reds that are aged 3 years with 1 year in oak. These wines are a big step up in quality and have rich flavors because of the minimum oak requirement. Finally, Gran Reservas are for wines from the best years. They are aged a minimum of 5 years before release with 18 months of oak aging. Most producers will do 20-30 months in oak to create outstanding flavors. I recommend that you begin with a crianza for 2 reasons. First, it is lighter and will not overwhelm you. Second, they are less expensive. Spend at least $15. Notice the gold string on the Gran Reserva bottle. That is a hallmark sign for a Spanish wine.

Aromas, Tastes and Pairings

Tempranillo wines are known for their cherry, plum, tomato, and dried fig fruit flavors. Other aromas and tastes come from the oak. They are cedar, leather, tobacco, vanilla, cinnamon and clove. Cinnamon is what I look for in these wines. You can taste it as soon as you swallow on the finish. And, I love it. It is fairly unique to them. Tempranillo pairs well with most foods because of its savory qualities. Regional Spanish cuisine like roasted vegetables and cured meats go well. However, the wine is diverse and not only pairs with local Spanish food, but it also works well foods from all over the globe. Try it with pasta, pizza and any dish with tomato-based sauces. Also, try it with grilled meats, recipes with corn and Mexican foods.

Should you like to see my cheat sheet for wine shopping, please click here. Print it out when you go wine shopping!

 If you would like to learn more about wine, please click here.

Follow me on Instagram @howtopickawine and my Youtube channel named How To Pick A Wine.