Tempranillo Journey
Tempranillo’s tale begins during the Middle Ages, a turbulent yet transformational period for Spanish viticulture. As the Moors retreated south, the Christian reconquest brought a resurgence of wine production across the Iberian Peninsula. In the wake of Islam’s retreat, people could enjoy drinking again. Historians speculate that the Tempranillo grape was cultivated by monastic orders, who played a crucial role in vine propagation and production during this time.
Tempranillo’s name translates as “early one.” The fact it ripened so quickly made the grape a favorite of vineyard planters. Tempranillo soon spread across 60 regions of northern and central Spain with each area giving the grape a local name. The two areas where its roots went deepest were Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
