Tempranillo

 

Synonym: Tempranillo de Rioja, Tinto Fino, Cencibel, Tinto de Madrid, Ull de Llebre, Ojo de Liebre, Tinto de Pais, Tinta Roriz (Portugal), Valdepenas (USA).

 

Commonly mistaken for: Carignan, Negretto.

 

Origin: Variety of Spanish red grape, native of the Rioja. Where it covers an important role in the most famous and characteristic wines in this zone; it is cultivated all over the world in many experimental vineyards. The name probably derives from the Spanish word "temprano", which when translated means:  precocious, referring to it’s maturation. Not always suited to the warm regions because of the low acidity of its must. 

 

Agronomic and environmental aspects: Adaptable to any type of soil and climate but having a preference for sunny exposures. The production is medium.  The traditional training system is "alberello" (sapling or small tree); it has a preference for a short pruning to spur.

 

Diseases, pests and disorders: Sensitive to botrytis, downy and powdery mildew. Not very sensitive to the spring frosts, but can be adversely affected by warm winds in spring time.

 

Description:

Growing Tip: open, cottony, of white colour with light reddish edges.    (carminato)

Leaf: of large dimensions, 5-lobed, with lengthened central lobe. Has a closed U-shaped petiolar sinus, superior side sinuses with overlapped edges, while inferior are deep. The leaves often have a pale, limp appearance provoked by the hairs and by the undulated surface.

Bunch: medium-large, compact, lengthened, of cylindrical form with one wing.   

Berry: of medium dimensions, spherical, with thick skin of blue-black colour.

 

Vegetation growth habit:

erect

Vigor:

medium

Average bunch weight:

medium-high (250-350 g.) [178g. 8/03/05]

Average bunches per shoot:

2

 

Growth Stages:

Time of budburst:

medium

Time of flowering:

early

Time of veraison:

early

Time of harvest:

early

 

Available Clones:

-          D8V12 :Click here to see growth stage photosDavis clone; characterized by small bunches, of cylindrical-pyramidal form, low density of berries; the berry has medium dimension [1.47 g. 8/03/05], with a strong skin. Particularly sensitive during flowering to frosts, rains and dust storms that can cause alternation of production and “hen and chicken”.

 

 

Maturity Results:

Vintage 2005

D8V12

17/01/05

24/01/05

30/01/05

14/02/05

17/02/05

26/02/05

8/03/05

Baumč

10.25

11.35

12.00

12.80

12.85

12.80

13.40

pH

3.33

3.47

3.67

3.88

4.01

4.01

4.06

T.A.

8.40

6.68

5.40

4.20

3.68

3.75

3.15

 

Wine characteristics:

Wine is an intense red in colour, very alcoholic, well-balanced, often low in acidity, develops well with ageing showing tobacco, spice and leather flavours. Its aromas and flavours often combine elements of berryish fruit, herbaceousness, and an earthy-leathery minerality. Rarely bottled as a stand-alone varietal, its most frequent blendmates are grenache, (Garnacha in Spain), Carignan (Mazuelo in Spain), Cabernet Sauvignon, Maccabčo, Monastrell and Graciano.