This Spanish varietal has never met a dish it didn’t like.

Spain is the world’s second most visited destination (sitting not far behind France), and who can blame us for swapping the Aussie winter for the beaches, bars and bloody delicious food this country has to offer? No one. And that’s before we even utter the word ‘tempranillo’.

Tempranillo – pronounced temp-rah-nee-oh (don’t worry about the Ls) – is Spain’s most popular, most important and most widely planted grape. It’s the queen bee. It’s all blackberry, black cherry and raspberry. So if, like us, Spain isn’t on your bingo card this year, then, at the very least, we can settle in with a glass of tempranillo, maybe in front of the heater to replicate those Spanish summer temps.

What is tempranillo?

Tempranillo is one of the world’s most widely planted red wine grapes, but it’s undoubtedly Spain’s hero. It’s known (and loved) for being super food-friendly and offers insane value when you look at the cost:quality ratio. Ever ordered a Rioja? That’s tempranillo. In Spain it also goes by Tinto del Toro and Tinta Fina, and in neighbouring Portugal, it’s called Tinta Roriz or Aragonez. Here’s some trivia – tempranillo takes its name from the Spanish word temprano, which means ‘early’, due to being an early-ripening grape and a wine that’s generally made to be enjoyed in its youth.

What does tempranillo taste like?

Tempranillo is famous for red fruit characteristics like cherry, strawberry, plum and even tomato. You can also expect secondary flavours like dried fig, cedar, leather (especially in expressions from Spain), vanilla, a little earth and herbs like clove and dill. As tempranillo ages, you’ll often taste more leather, coffee and cocoa. The wines are generally medium or full bodied, with medium acidity (that’s the tart, mouth-watering feeling) and medium tannins (the dry, puckering sensation in your mouth).

What are the styles of tempranillo?

Most tempranillo wines spend some time in oak, but not always, so we’ve put together a cheat sheet for you. A tempranillo that is young, with no oak is labelled Joven (literally meaning young). This makes it a fresher, brighter style. If it’s a tempranillo that’s had a short stint in oak, it’ll be labelled Crianza. These wines show a subtle touch of oak. Tempranillo wines that spend 12 months or more in oak are known as Reserva, but if the wine has spent two or more years in oak it’s labelled Gran Reserva. Still with us? Great. These final two styles are a little more complex, given their extra development and time spent in contact with oak.

What should I eat with tempranillo?

Tempranillo has savoury characteristics, which makes it a mean match for a lot of different dishes. Spanish cuisine is the obvious one – tempranillo loves tapas, paella, chorizo, cured meats and all that good stuff. But it doesn’t end there – temp also pairs well with pizza, pasta, tacos, grilled meats (smoky notes are your friend), hard cheeses, burger night and more. We’re serious when we say there’s not much tempranillo doesn’t work with when it comes to food.

Where is tempranillo found?

Spain holds more than 80% of the world’s plantings, so it’s safe to say Spain is the home of tempranillo. But where else does it grow? You’ll find the food-friendly grape with Spain’s neighbour in Portugal, along with Argentina and typically California in the US. Here in Australia, tempranillo plantings are small but mighty. The grape has found its feet in warmer-climate regions like McLaren Vale and Heathcote, as well as Margaret River and in cooler regions like the Adelaide Hills and Beechworth.

Running with Bulls Tempranillo is a very food-friendly wine

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6 tempranillo to try

1. Running with Bulls Tempranillo

Is there a more appropriate name for a wine made from a Spanish grape than Running with Bulls? We think not. This tempranillo actually comes from the Barossa Valley – it’s medium bodied, deep red in the glass with aromas of blackcurrant and cocoa, and it tastes of dark berries and choccie. It was made to be shared with good mates and share plates.

2. Artelan Rioja Tempranillo

The Artelan is a medium-bodied tempranillo that’s on the drier side (zero sweetness here). It’s a stunning example from Rioja, packed with juicy raspberries, vanilla, toast and bright acidity. It’ll be no surprise that this tempranillo matches a heap of dishes (especially tapas and smoky meats), but we love it with a midweek takeaway pizza, best enjoyed on the couch.

A bottle of the Artelan Rioja Tempranillo

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The SC Pannell Dead End Tempranillo is one of Australia's best tempranillos

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3. S.C. Pannell Dead End Tempranillo

If you’re familiar with S.C.Pannell, you might have come across their Dead End temp. And, let’s be honest, outside of Spain, McLaren Vale is the perfect place to grow tempranillo. This one is a classic – aromas of cherry, sarsaparilla (throwback) and cola, and juicy red fruit flavours. Pair this gem with paella.

4. Little Giant Tempranillo

Ah yes, our favourite oxymoron, Little Giant. Little (stumpy) bottle, giant (approachable) attitude – we’d be surprised if you hadn’t come across a bottle before. The Little Giant Tempranillo comes from our friends over in South Australia. It’s bursting with fresh berries, a little cherry and that signature acidity. Pasta night? This is your drink. BYO parm.

A bottle of the Little Giant Tempranillo

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5. Taylors Estate Tempranillo

This tempranillo comes from Taylors in the Clare Valley. It’s medium bodied and ruby red in the glass. Expect to smell rich cherry and a dusting of oak, and taste cherry – maraschino specifically – and plums, along with a little spice. This is a ready-to-drink tempranillo best served on taco night.

6. Bideona Tempranillo de Laderas

Another prime Rioja expression is the Bideona Tempranillo de Laderas. Rioja is a cooler-climate, which has given this wine flavours of cherries, red berries and a little thyme. Hosting burger night? Whether you’re working with beef, lamb or portobello mushrooms, a bottle of Bideona has you covered.

A bottle of the Bideona Tempranillo de Laderas

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Want more on wine? Check out our collection of Wine 101 articles that cover all sorts of grape varieties and styles, with loads of ideas on the bottles to try.