It really should be called Spanish Tempranillo Day. Almost 90% of this popular black grape varietal is grown in Spain. Interestingly, this year was the first time Tempranillo took over the number one spot as the most planted grape in Spain, a position previously held by the white grape varietal, Airen.
Tempranillo is an old variety and one of the nine red noble grapes. The name comes from the Spanish word, Temprano. It means “early” and refers to its ripening sooner than other grapes. It is used as a single varietal but also blended with Grenache to make full-bodied red wines.
Spain’s most famous region for growing Tempranillo is Rioja. It is a moderate climate region in the northern part of the country. Tempranillo also grows in Portugal, where it is known as Tinta Roriz, and is commonly blended into Port wine. The Tempranillo grape is first mentioned on the Iberian Peninsula in 1807, although its true origin is still under speculation.
Tempranillo was planted in California’s Central Valley in the early 1900s and called Valdepeñas. The hot Central Valley created a wine of less quality which led to its use in bulk wines. It is still grown there but has also been planted in more moderate-climate locations in the state over the last few decades.
Here are some more Tempranillo numbers:
- Tempranillo is considered the fifth-most planted wine grape in the world. There are about 570,000 acres of Tempranillo grapes planted globally. (OIV, 2017)
- Although Tempranillo is grown in many different countries, 88% of it is grown in Spain. The major regions for Tempranillo are Rioja and Ribera del Duero. (OIV, 2017)
- In 2022, the Tempranillo variety became for the first time the most planted wine grape variety in Spain, with 499,663 acres. (Spain Ministry, 2022)
- Portugal produces about 8% of the world’s Tempranillo. Other countries growing Tempranillo today include Argentina, France, the United States, and Australia, among others. (OIV, 2017)
- According to a global study, Tempranillo had the largest growth of grape plantings in the world from 2000 to 2016. (University of Adelaide, 2022)
- Many American states produce Tempranillo, but California produces the most, about 900 acres of vines. (California Grape Acreage Report, 2021)
- It is still grown in the Central Valley but also San Luis Obispo County and Yolo County, among others. (California Grape Acreage Report, 2021)
- Texas produces a total of 400 acres of Tempranillo, making it the second most planted grape in the state after Cabernet Sauvignon. (USDA, 2020)
- Tempranillo grapes were introduced to Oregon by Earl Jones in the early 1990s. Today Oregon has 400 acres. (University of Oregon, 2022)
Tempranillo is a versatile wine grape that can make a range of wines, from the simple and inexpensive to the more aged and complex. It is a relatively high yielding grape. The wine can sometimes be hard to locate because of its various names.
In 2011, the Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) organized the first annual International Tempranillo Day on the second Thursday in November to celebrate the contribution of this varietal to the wine world.
As you celebrate Tempranillo’s contribution to the wine world today, keep these numbers in mind or share them with your customers, colleagues or friends.
