When most people think of Spanish wine, one word usually comes to mind: Rioja.
But Spain is far too complex and far too fascinating to be reduced to one single region.
For our upcoming April Wilmington Wine Circle focused on the wines of Spain, I invite you to look at the map and follow one classic Spanish grape as it travels across three dramatically different landscapes: Tempranillo.
The Heart of Rioja
Tempranillo finds its most famous expression in Rioja.
Here, the grape benefits from a balance of Atlantic and Mediterranean influences. The wines often show:
- Red cherry and dried strawberry
- Subtle vanilla and baking spice from American oak
- Medium to medium-plus body
- Structured but polished tannins
Rioja also introduces one of Spain’s most distinctive aging systems (Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva ) where time in barrel and bottle shape the final character of the wine.
In Rioja, Tempranillo is elegant, composed, and beautifully layered.
Power and Structure in Ribera del Duero
Travel just a bit south and east on the map and you arrive in Ribera del Duero.
Here the climate shifts dramatically. Higher elevation, intense sunlight, and significant diurnal temperature swings produce a different expression:
- Darker fruit — blackberry and plum
- Firmer tannins
- Greater concentration
- More pronounced structure
In Ribera, Tempranillo (often called Tinto Fino locally) feels more muscular and powerful than its Rioja counterpart. It’s the same grape but shaped by altitude and extremes.
Intensity in Toro
Push further west and you reach Toro.
Here, the climate becomes even more extreme: hot summers, sandy soils, and old vines. The resulting wines can be:
- Deeply colored
- Bold and concentrated
- Higher in alcohol
- Packed with dark fruit and spice
In Toro, Tempranillo shows its most intense and rustic side.
April’s Wine Circle
If you’ve only experienced Tempranillo from one region, I promise you there is much more Spain waiting to be discovered.
Join us on Thursday, April 2, from 6:00-7:30 pm for our April Wine Circle focused on the wines of Spain. I am sure there will be some tasty Tempranillos that will help us discover Spain’s delicious diversity.
Wilmington Wine Circle 