The organization TAPAS (Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society), is a nonprofit trade association of over one hundred wineries, growers, and amigos, whose mission is to promote Tempranillo and other varietal wine grapes native to the Iberian Peninsula, and wines produced from them in North America. So it makes sense that in 2011, they started International Tempranillo Day: A celebration of the Tempranillo grape with all its regional synonyms.
Tempranillo comes from the Spanish word, Temprano, which means early. This is in reference to the fact that the Tempranillo grape ripens earlier than most grapes in Spain. Tempranillo is known as “Spain’s noble grape.”
Tempranillo, indigenous to Spain and used in the great Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines, is planted in 500,000 acres of the world’s vineyards, making it the fourth most planted wine grape, and growing! Until recently, this noble grape’s entire acreage was almost all grown in Spain, but knowledge of this noble, and easily drinkable grape has created excitement and a spirit of cooperation among adventurous vintners bringing this Old World variety to New World soils.
Tempranillo today is grown in many more countries around the world including Portugal, Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia,Turkey, Canada, China, Thailand, and more. And in the United States, Tempranillo has taken off across the Central Coast of California, up through Oregon, Washington, over to Idaho, and all the way to Texas.
Here are some more fun facts about the Tempranillo:
- Their vines are easy to identify because they have jagged leaves that turn bright red in the fall.
- The grape is called Aragonez in Portugal and plays a major role in Portuguese wine production.
- Other Spanish names for the grape include Tinto Fino, Tinto del Pais, and Cencibel.
- Wines made from this grape have cherry, plum, and dried fig aromas and flavors.
Those who drink wine made from Tempranillo will be glad to know it is food-friendly. The wine pairs especially well with meats cooked on the grill, as well as tacos, burritos, and other foods with a tomato base. For vegans and vegetarians, the bold red is great with roasted veggies and hearty soups like Butternut Squash.
To celebrate, all you need to do is open a bottle of Tempranillo, enjoy the fun, and share your experiences online with the hashtag #TempranilloDay or #Tempranillo.
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