AUSTRALIAN TEMPRANILLO
This Spanish beauty is becoming increasingly popular with winemakers and Wine Selectors’ community of wine lovers. Tempranillo’s attractive colour, its juicy, rustic fruit profile and food-friendly nature have ensured that this Spanish red wine https://www.wineselectors.com.au/wine-shop/red-wines is a hit on restaurant wine lists and is popular with those interested in expanding their vinous horizons. The styles and winemaking techniques vary between Australia's warm and cool climate regions. Still, Tempranillo usually has an approachable, savoury profile of sweet, herbaceous berries that are sometimes bright and vibrant or smoky and dark.
WHAT IS TEMPRANILLO WINE?
Tempranillo is thought to have originated in the Spanish wine region of Rioja; its versatility and its ability to thrive in heat and drought conditions have spread it worldwide.
An early-ripening grape, it produces mid-weight, deeply coloured, richly flavoured red wines known by the same name.
Learn more about Australian Tempranillo
IS TEMPRANILLO A RED WINE?
Tempranillo is a medium to full-bodied red wine with red fruit characters and originates from Spain.
IS TEMPRANILLO A DRY OR SWEET WINE?
While Tempranillo is full of red fruit flavours, it certainly isn’t a sweet wine. It gets flavour at lower baumé than some other varieties, so it is perfect if you're after a savoury, medium—to full-bodied style with excellent food-friendly appeal. Enjoy its delectable blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, vanilla, and spice characters.
IS TEMPRANILLO SIMILAR TO PINOT NOIR?
Tempranillo and Pinot Noir have individual flavour profiles and characteristics. Tempranillo is medium to full-bodied and has loads of tannins, while Pinot Noir is a lighter-bodied wine and is more delicate.
Peter Leske of Adelaide Hills winery, La Linea, explains the difference between the two varieties in his own words.
“Tempranillo is what I call ‘Pinot Noir on steroids. It has all the fragrance and perfume of Pinot plus a bit more mid-palate flesh, colour and tannin. I love its beautiful cherry, raspberry fruit, and savoury finish without the alcohol kick. And I like that it’s so pretty in its youth but develops complexity quickly in bottle.”
IS TEMPRANILLO SIMILAR TO SHIRAZ?
While Tempranillo and Shiraz do share some characters like spicy black fruit, Shiraz is more full-bodied and has firmer tannins.
Tempranillo is medium-bodied, full of juicy red and black fruit flavours and very well-balanced.
WHAT DOES TEMPRANILLO PAIR WITH?
With its spicy, berry-fruit characters, mouth-filling tannins, and Spanish origins, it’s no surprise that Tempranillo is a perfect match with tapas. Quick and easy, offering many different tastes in one sitting, and extremely social, a selection of tapas suits our al-fresco Aussie lifestyle. So, open a bottle of Tempranillo with friends over shared plates of chorizo, jamón, patatas bravas, and fragrant paella. Aussie Tempranillo is also super delicious and is served with spicy seafood and Mexican dishes.
Discover more delicious Tempranillo food pairings.
WHAT DOES TEMPRANILLO TASTE LIKE?
Tempranillo is renowned for its juicy, rustic fruit profile and food-friendly nature. Lighter than Shiraz, but heavier than Pinot Noir, Tempranillo is a great variety for wine lovers looking to expand their horizons and find an ideal match for spicier food.
In warmer climes, Tempranillo’s generosity of black fruits, spice, and sunny disposition are welcoming. What the grape lacks in sophistication makes up for in pleasant drinkability.
In cooler climes, where Tempranillo grapes are in top demand, the flavours are finer and more subtle, with red and black fruits, spice and herbs, and because these wines aren’t carrying a heavy weight, Tempranillo’s acid backbone isn’t taxed quite as much. Sometimes savoury nuance surfaces, sometimes a textural loveliness.
WHAT REGION IN AUSTRALIA MAKES THE BEST TEMPRANILLO?
In Australia, Tempranillo is taking off with regions like Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Heathcote, and Margaret River having the most success.
Tempranillo has only been planted in Australia for about 35 years, with two of the first producers being Victoria’s Brown Brothers and Yalumba in the Barossa. Their first vintages (around 1994) were encouraging enough to continue experimentation with newer clones also trialled. Since then, Tempranillo has been planted in many regions nationwide, all with relative success.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA TEMPRANILLO
Tempranillo has made a home in South Australia with plantings in both cool and warm climate regions including Adelaide Hills, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, Riverland, Limestone Coast, and Barossa Valley.
ADELAIDE HILLS TEMPRANILLO
As an early-ripening grape, Tempranillo is very well suited to the Adelaide Hills higher altitude and cool climate.
“It ripens earlier in the season and, therefore, can often miss much of the extenuated hot weather we get towards the end of summer,” explains Adelaide Hills winemaker, Natasha Mooney. “ The fruit flavours are ripe, balanced and pure at an earlier stage, which avoids excess sugar, and, therefore, alcohol, which is harder to avoid in other varieties.”
MARGARET RIVER TEMPRANILLO
With its moderate to warm climate, Margaret River produces medium-bodied Tempranillo that are vibrant and fruit-driven.
Mike Calneggia of Rosabrook wines has discovered that Margaret River is a great home for the variety. “Margaret River has a maritime climate, which means generally warm days and cool nights. This means that the ripening process for Tempranillo is very stable,” he explains.
HEATHCOTE TEMPRANILLO
Victoria’s cool climate Heathcote wine region is renowned for its Shiraz and the famous ancient red Cambrian soils, which are ideal for producing rich, dark-fruited, and concentrated red wines, including Tempranillo.
“Tempranillo is an early ripening grape and has no problem reaching full maturity in the soils at Heathcote,” explains Tar & Roses winemaker Narelle King.
MCLAREN VALE TEMPRANILLO
The warm, Mediterranean-style climate and proximity to the sea explain Tempranillo's suitability for the McLaren Vale wine region.
Charles Whish, winemaker at Serafino, attributes the bright, juicy fruit characters and lovely soft tannins of their Bellissimno Tempranillo to the maritime climate of McLaren Vale.
HOW TO BUY TEMPRANILLO FROM WINE SELECTORS?
Want the best Australian Tempranillo delivered to your doorstep? With Wine Selectors, you can explore Australia’s top Tempranillo from the comfort of your home. Order a mixed Tempranillo case at 20% off the RRP, or sign up for a Customised Tempranillo subscription to enjoy styles handpicked just for you.