Tempranillo (also known as Tinta Roriz, Aragonez, and Cencibe) is Spain’s signature red grape, loved for its smooth texture, vibrant fruit, and subtle savoury notes. From youthful, juicy styles to long‑aged classics, it offers flavours of cherry, plum, spice, and tobacco, making it one of the world’s most iconic red varieties.
The 2017 Viña Ardanza Reserva from La Rioja Alta is a benchmark example of classic Rioja winemaking. Crafted from 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha,...
Spain
Rioja
2017
Full Bodied Red
Regular price
£75.99
Tempranillo typically shows cherry, plum, strawberry, and dried fig, with leather, tobacco, vanilla, and spice in oak‑aged styles. Wines labelled Cencibel—common in central Spain—often show ripe fruit and a smooth, approachable profile.
Tempranillo thrives in Spain’s Rioja and Ribera del Duero, and appears in Portugal as Tinta Roriz/Aragonez. It’s also grown in Argentina, Australia, and the United States, each producing distinct expressions.
Yes. Cencibel is another regional name for Tempranillo, used mainly in Castilla‑La Mancha. While the grape is the same, wines labelled Cencibel often come from warmer areas, giving them a fruit‑forward, softer style.
Tempranillo pairs beautifully with tapas, grilled meats, roast lamb, chorizo, tomato‑based dishes, paella, and aged cheeses. Its mix of fruit, spice, and savoury notes makes it extremely food‑friendly.
These terms indicate ageing. Joven is young and fruity; Crianza has moderate oak ageing; Reserva is richer with longer ageing; Gran Reserva is the most mature, complex, and oak‑influenced.
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