Tempranillo is the popular red grape variety which forms backbone of the finest wines from Portugal and Spain. Almost every nice red wine from Rioja has Tempranillo at its core, and specially in Portugal the variety is widely used in Douro Valley i.e. under the name of Tinta Roriz – both for fortified wines and table wines. Tempranillo grape variety vines have been successfully adopted in the New World, especially in
- Argentina
- California
- Australia
Tempranillo is the name given to it by Spanish growers which means “little early one” because of its habit of ripening earliar than Garnacha (Grenache) which is traditional Spanish blending partner. By Studies of the DNA suggest that grape originated in Navarra region and Rioja, and the lack of clonal variation among the various locations from where it is planted indicate that it has only spread through Spain relatively recently.
Tempranillo Grape Origin
Tempranillo is an old grape i.e. dating back to at least the ninth century. Tempranillo grape variety originated in the Iberian Peninsula and the vast majority of plantings are still in Spain, and moreover it is an essential component of the Port wines of Portugal.
Tempranillo Calories
It contains 113 calories per 5 ounce serving and come under the category of best red wine type.
Is Tempranillo is the Best Red Wine for Health?
Red wines are known to lower the bad cholesterol in terms of your body. According to a study, high fiber Tempranillo red grapes used to make specific varieties of red wines such as Rioja, which lowers the bad cholesterol levels
Ways Red Wine keeps you Healthy
Drinking red wine habit happens to come with some blissful health benefits, such as slimming you waist line and even protecting your ticker. Check out the reason why winding down with a glass of wine is good call all around the day.
Lower your blood Sugar
The skin of red wine grapes is a rich source of natural compound resveratrol that may actually help diabetics to regulate their blood sugar, i.e. finds in recent research that published in the journal Nutrition. In studies this has found that who took 250 mg of resveratrol supplement once a day for total three months had lower blood glucose levels than those people who did not take the pill. Researchers suspects that resveratrol may help in stimulating insulin secretion and activate a protein that helps regulating glucose and insulin sensitivity.
Wine and Brain Health
One of the best red wine for brain health is Malbec that contains 4x the antioxidants as Merlots and 2x as much as Cabernet Sauvignons. Resveratrol is also the key to keeping your memory sharp. The compound has been shown to hamper the formation of beta amyloid protein i.e. the key ingredient in the plaque found in the brains of people with Alzheimer.
Fights off a cold
Red wine has antioxidants that may help keep you healthy, if you getting sick more often. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that among 4,000 faculty members at five Spanish universities, and those who drank more than 13 weekly glasses of wine for a year were 40 percent less likely to come down with common cold.
Tempranillo Wine Taste
Spanish Tempranillo delivers contrasting flavors of cherries and leather. The finer the wine, the more balance there is between fruit and earth. The finish is typically smooth and lingers with taste of tannin on both sides of your mouth.
Tempranillo Wine Pairing
Tempranillo pairs well with almost every types of food because its very savory qualities. Below are the regional Spanish cuisine that has amazing combination to pair with tempranillo
- Roasted Vegetables
- Cured meats, like the lusty Jamon Iberico de Bellota creates an amazing pairing.
- Smoky dishes and Barbecue grilled meats
- Polenta, Grits and dishes with corn as a major ingredient
- Mexican food such as nachos, tacos, chile rellenos and burritos.
Tempranillo Wine Price
$18 for a decent Rioja Crianza