Tempranillo
Tempranillo is a grape grown for use in red wine, native to northern Spain, and widely cultivated in both northern and central Spain. It is also fairly common in Argentina, and plays a minor role in the port wines of Portugal. It does best in cooler grape growing regions, as it does not tolerate hot or dry weather well. Pests and diseases are a serious problem for this grape variety, since it is has little resistance to either.Tempranillo is usually blended with other grape varieties, being low in both acid level and sugar content. It is the major component of the well-known and excellent Rioja wines. Its wines can be consumed when young, but is considered at its best when aged, especially when aged in oak.
Tempranillo is known by numerous other names in the regions it is grown. Valdepeñas, a minor grape in California appears to be identical to Tempranillo. Until recently, some suspected that Tempranillo was related to the Pinot Noir grape, but recent genetic studies tend to discount this possibility.
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