Tempranillo: the great Spanish red, from Rioja to Ribera
66 bottles, from joven to gran reservaBlack cherry, tobacco, leather, a hint of vanilla when the oak has had its say: this is the red you serve with roast lamb or a rib of beef, and the one you lay down in the cellar for ten years. Tempranillo ripens early, hence its name (temprano, early), and takes on the face of its place.
In Rioja, it gives fine, spicy reds; in Ribera del Duero, on a plateau above 750 m, darker and tighter wines. Read the selection by appellation, then by ageing designation.
Bodega Lanzaga - Lanzaga 2021
A precise and profound Rioja Alavesa with a strong sense of terroir, where freshness and tannic finesse combine with beautiful aromatic intensity.
Artadi - Viña El Pison 2022
A profound and precise expression of the Rioja Alavesa terroir, combining aromatic intensity with great textural finesse.
Artadi - Valdegines 2022
A single-vineyard Tempranillo that precisely reveals the finesse and chalky depth of Rioja Alavesa.
Artadi - San Lazaro 2022
A single-plot Tempranillo that precisely expresses the chalky finesse and depth of Rioja Alavesa.
Artadi - La Poza de Ballesteros 2022
A great single-vineyard Tempranillo, combining depth, fruit precision and a pure expression of the Rioja Alavesa terroir.
Artadi - La Hoya 2022
A red from Rioja Alavesa that combines fruit depth, tannic finesse, and the elegance of its limestone terroir.
Artadi - El Carretil 2022
A great, precise, and deep terroir Tempranillo that elegantly expresses the singularity of Rioja Alavesa.
Tempos Vega Sicilia - Alión 2021
A Ribera del Duero Tempranillo that is powerful, precise, and elegant, bearing the hallmark of Tempos Vega Sicilia's meticulousness.
Alto Horizonte - Altitud 2022
A Spanish high-altitude red that combines freshness, fruit and suppleness in a harmonious palate.
Dominio de Es - La Diva 2021
An intense and precise Ribera del Duero from old vines, where concentration meets elegance.
Dominio de Es - Carravilla 2021
A high-altitude Ribera del Duero, combining aromatic depth, freshness and tannic elegance.
Dominio de Es - La Mata 2021
A Ribera del Duero of terroir, deep and precise, where concentration is combined with remarkable freshness.
Dominio de Es - Viñas Viejas de Soria 2021
A high-altitude Ribera del Duero, deep and precise, from very old Tempranillo vines from the Atauta Valley.
Dominio del Águila - Canta la Perdiz 2018
A great red wine from Ribera del Duero, deep and precise, made from very old Tempranillo vines.
Resalte - Peña Roble Joven 2024
A young, juicy and straightforward Ribera del Duero, focused on the purity of the fruit and immediate enjoyment.
La Rioja Alta - Gran Reserva 890 2011
A great classic Rioja, combining aromatic complexity, fine texture and very long aging potential.
La Rioja Alta - Gran Reserva 904 2016
A great classic from Rioja Alta, combining finesse, aromatic complexity and remarkable aging potential.
La Rioja Alta - Gran Reserva Viña Arana 2016
A great Rioja Alta in classic style, combining aromatic finesse, elegant oakiness and remarkable aging potential.
La Rioja Alta - Viña Ardanza Reserva Assemblage 2017
A great Rioja in the classic style, combining aromatic depth, balance and elegance on the palate.
La Rioja Alta - Viña Alberdi Reserva 2021
A classic and precise Rioja Reserva, combining fruit, freshness and woody elegance.
La Rioja Alta - Finca San Martin Crianza 2021
A precise and delicious Rioja de finca, where the freshness of Tempranillo meets the elegance of wood.
Dominio del Challao - Angelita 2021
A Mediterranean Spanish red wine combining fruit, suppleness and freshness for a convivial tasting experience.
Gómez Cruzado - Crianza 2021
A precise and balanced Crianza de Rioja Alta, where the fruit combines with an elegant woody touch for great drinkability.
Gómez Cruzado - El Predilecto 2022
A juicy and precise Rioja, which elegantly combines freshness, fruit and drinkability.
Tempranillo, appellation by appellation
The Atlantic influence of the upper Ebro valley refines the grape; the continental plateau of the Duero makes it denser.
| Denomination | Climate and soils | Tempranillo in the glass | A benchmark in the cellar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rioja AltaHaro, Ygay, the Sonsierra | Atlantic influence, clay-limestone and ferruginous clay | Cherry, sweet spices, lively acidity, takes well to oak | Viña Alberdi Reserva 2021La Rioja Alta, €29.70 a bottle, by the case of 6 |
| Rioja AlavesaLaguardia, Labastida, Elvillar | North bank of the Ebro, limestone at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria | Fresh fruit, chalky frame, great precision | Viñas de Gain 2021Artadi, €41 per bottle, in a set of 3 |
| Rioja OrientalAlfaro, Mount Yerga | Warmer and drier, Mediterranean influence | Blended with Garnacha, round and sun-drenched fruit | La Vendimia 2018Palacios Remondo, €13.50 per bottle, by the case of 6 |
| Ribera del DueroBurgos and Valladolid | Continental plateau above 750 m, cold nights | Dark colour, black fruit, tight tannins | Pago del Cielo Celeste Crianza 2020Torres, €24 per bottle |
| Ribera del Duero, SoriaAtauta and its old vines | The highest and coolest part of the appellation | Tension, precise black fruit, old-vine depth | Viñas Viejas de Soria 2021Dominio de Es, €110 per bottle |
| Toro Zamora, downstream on the Duero | Dry, contrasting climate, sandy and stony soils at around 700 m | Tinta de Toro: power, substance, ripe tannins | Pintia 2020Pintia, €98.60 per bottle, in a set of 2 |
A single-plot wine expresses one place: that is the choice of Artadi in Rioja Alavesa and of Dominio de Es in Soria.
Joven, crianza, reserva, gran reserva
The durations below are the minimums for Rioja and Ribera del Duero, in barrel and then in bottle.
| Please mention | Minimal livestock farming | What it changes | Example in the cellar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joven, roble | Bottled quickly; roble: a short spell in oak barrels | Crunchy fruit, to drink within three years | Peña Roble Joven 2024Resalte, €16.80 per bottle, by the case of 6 |
| Crianza | Two years, including one in barrel | Fruit and oak well integrated, vanilla, sweet spices | Finca San Martín Crianza 2021La Rioja Alta, €17.60 per bottle, by the case of 6 |
| Reserva | Three years, including one in barrel | More depth, leather and tobacco, softened tannins | Viña Ardanza Reserva 2017La Rioja Alta, €49 per bottle, in a set of 3 |
| Gran Reserva | Five years, including two in barrel | Bouquet of undergrowth and dried fruit, very long ageing potential | Gran Reserva 904 2016La Rioja Alta, €115.60 per bottle |
| Site wine or winemaker's wine | Free duration, set by the winemaker | The plot and the altitude count for more than the designation | El Carretil 2022Artadi, €300 per bottle |
The designation tells you the ageing; the ageing potential depends on the producer.
A bottle for every mood
Choose by occasion, budget or appellation.
An everyday red
An expressive Rioja with red fruit and spice, for a Saturday barbecue or a slow-cooked dish.
Tinto Madurado 2022, David Moreno: €11.90 per bottleStart with the lower prices
Jovens, roble and first crianzas: Tempranillo at its fruitiest, for a table of tapas with friends.
The selection by ascending priceA classic Rioja
A reserva from a great Haro house, aged a long time in barrel: candied cherry, spice, leather, a seamless texture.
Viña Ardanza Reserva 2017: €49 per bottle, in a set of 3A red for ageing
A gran reserva to lay down in the cellar or open with game, with a bouquet of undergrowth and dried fruit.
Gran Reserva 904 2016, La Rioja Alta: €115.60 per bottleHigh-altitude Ribera
A high-plateau crianza, black fruit and freshness, to discover the dark, tight face of Tinto Fino.
Pago del Cielo Celeste Crianza 2020, Torres: €24 per bottleA grand table
The Tempranillo of the Vega Sicilia family in Ribera del Duero, powerful and precise, for a joint of beef.
Alión 2021: €122 per bottleExplore Rioja
Rioja Alta, Alavesa and Oriental: classic houses, single-plot growers and blends with Garnacha.
The Rioja selectionExplore Ribera del Duero
From Valdrinal's entry-level reds to the great names, Vega Sicilia and Pingus, with the old vines of Soria.
The Ribera del Duero selection
The classic and the site, side by side
The selection covers both ends of Tempranillo. On one side, the classic houses of Haro and Ygay, La Rioja Alta and Marqués de Murrieta, which age their wines for a long time and sell them ready to drink. On the other, the growers of place, Artadi in Rioja Alavesa and Dominio de Es in the heights of Soria, who put the plot before the designation.
In between, Ribera del Duero brings its density, from Valdrinal to Vega Sicilia and Pingus. The selection weighs heavily towards reds for ageing: that is where Tempranillo shows its full measure, after ten years in the cellar. For the sunny side, see also Garnacha.
One grape, seven names
Tinto Fino or Tinta del País in Ribera del Duero, Tinta de Toro in Toro, Cencibel in La Mancha and Valdepeñas, Ull de Llebre in Catalonia. In Portugal, it is called Tinta Roriz in the Douro and Aragonez in the Alentejo, where it goes into the great blends. To explore further, see our Portugal selection.
The Wine Wanderer Team
What we are asked about Tempranillo
What is Tempranillo?
It is the great red grape of Spain. Its name comes from temprano, "early": it ripens earlier than Garnacha. Fairly thick skin, moderate acidity, aromas of cherry and plum, it gains complexity with ageing in barrel. It reigns over Rioja and Ribera del Duero, and grows in almost every part of Spain.
What does a Tempranillo wine taste like?
Young, it smells of cherry and plum, with a supple palate. Aged in barrel, it takes on notes of vanilla and clove; with age come leather, tobacco and undergrowth. In Rioja, it stays fine and spicy; on the Duero plateau, it becomes darker and more tannic.
Are Tempranillo and Tinto Fino the same grape?
Yes. In Ribera del Duero it is called Tinto Fino or Tinta del País; in Toro, Tinta de Toro; in La Mancha, Cencibel; in Catalonia, Ull de Llebre; in Portugal, Tinta Roriz. The clones differ slightly with the climate, but the variety remains the same.
Rioja or Ribera del Duero: what's the difference?
Rioja follows the Ebro under Atlantic influence: finer reds, lively acidity, often long ageing, and blends with Garnacha or Graciano. Ribera is a high continental plateau where Tempranillo ripens under wide temperature swings: darker colour, black fruit, tight tannins. Compare Viña Ardanza Reserva 2017 (€49 per bottle, in a set of 3) and Alión 2021 (€122).
What do crianza, reserva and gran reserva mean?
They are ageing designations. A crianza has aged two years, including one in barrel; a reserva three years, including one in barrel; a gran reserva five years, including two in barrel. A joven goes straight into bottle. The table of designations gives an example of each.
How long can you keep a Tempranillo?
A joven or a roble is best drunk within three years. A crianza blossoms between three and eight years. Classic reservas and gran reservas, such as La Rioja Alta's Gran Reserva 890 2011 (€304 per bottle), last twenty years and more. The great wines of Ribera, Vega Sicilia Único first among them, call for long patience in the cellar.
What dish should you serve with a Tempranillo?
Which good Tempranillo to choose for under 20 euros?
The selection offers some fine entry-level bottles: Tinto Madurado 2022 from David Moreno at €11.90 per bottle, Celeste Roble 2021 from Torres at €15.90 per bottle, or Finca San Martín Crianza 2021 from La Rioja Alta at €17.60 per bottle, by the case of 6. The selection sorted by ascending price brings them together.