A Tour of Wine Grapes: Tempranillo

Tempranillo 🍷

Photo by Holger Casselmann on Wikimedia Commons

Tempranillo is a red wine grape with a history that dates back over 2,000 years, likely introduced to Spain by the Phoenicians. The name comes from the Spanish word "temprano," meaning early, because this grape ripens weeks before most other Spanish red varieties.

Spain is its primary homeland, particularly in the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions, where it is used in the country's most famous red wines. Beyond Spain, Tempranillo is grown in Portugal (where it is often called Tinta Roriz and used in Port wine production), as well as in California, Australia, and Argentina.

Tempranillo features a distinct range of aromas and tastes. Freshly made versions are fruit-driven, offering clear flavors of red cherry, plum, and tomato. When the wine is aged in oak barrels, it transforms and picks up savory notes of vanilla, tobacco, leather, and clove. It has a medium-to-full body with noticeable tannins—the element that dries out your mouth—and a moderate level of acidity that keeps the wine tasting fresh rather than heavy.

This grape is well-known for its excellent ability to age, and Spanish bottles are officially named based on how long they mature. Simple versions, labeled as Joven, receive little to no oak time and are meant to be consumed young. Wines labeled Crianza are aged for two years with six months in oak, balancing fresh fruit with light spice. High-quality Reserva wines age for three years with one year in oak, while top-tier Gran Reserva wines spend five years aging before release. Premium bottles have 10 to 30 years of potential aging with the bright fruit flavors softening into smoother, more velvety textures. 

To get the most out of these flavors, the wine should be served slightly cool, at a temperature between 60°F and 65°F (15°C to 18°C). Serve in a large, standard red wine glass with a wide bowl.

Behind the Cork™ - Riviera Sauvignon Blanc

2023 Riviera Wine Company Sauvignon Blanc ($25)

This 2023 Happy Canyon Sauvignon Blanc is produced by Riviera Wine Company, a California brand launched in 2020 by winemaker Doug Margerum who is also known for his namesake Margerum Wine Company. He created the Riviera line to produce dependable, everyday bottles at an affordable price point.

To make this wine, the company sources its grapes from the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara which sits further inland than most other coastal regions. This creates an ideal environment for grapes like Sauvignon Blanc that require extra warmth to ripen properly.

This 2023 Riviera Sauvignon Blanc was produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. It is pale gold in color with aromas of tropical fruit and melon. On the palate, it has flavors of grapefruit and lime. It’s refreshingly acidic and finishes bright.

The 2023 Riviera Sauvignon Blanc is a delightful wine that’s affordable and attainable. That makes it a great fit as this week’s BTC Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Tannat

Tannat 🍷

Photo by Doris Schneider on Wikimedia Commons

The Tannat (tahn-naht) grape originated in the Madiran region of South West France, where it has been grown for centuries. In the late 19th century, Basque immigrants carried the vine to Uruguay. Today, Tannat is the national signature grape of Uruguay, thriving in its coastal climate and producing softer styles of wine than its French counterparts. It is also grown in smaller amounts in places like California, Virginia, and Australia.

Tannt’s name comes from the local French word for "tanned," referencing both its dark skin color.

Wines made from Tannat will have aromas and flavors like blackberries, dark plums, and black currants. Additionally, there may be hints of dark chocolate, licorice, spices, and smoke. Because it naturally contains a very high amount of seed and skin compounds called tannins, the wine can feel quite drying in your mouth when it is young.

This high amount of tannins gives Tannat an exceptional ability to age. While many red wines are best consumed within a few years, Tannat wines can sit in a cellar for ten to twenty years.

Serve Tannat at a temperature between 60°F and 65°F (15°C to 18°C). It should be served in a large red wine glass with a wide bowl.

Behind the Cork™ - Montes Alpha Syrah

2022 Montes Alpha Syrah ($24.99)

Montes — officially Viña Montes — was founded in 1987 by four partners with extensive experience in winemaking and viticulture: Aurelio Montes, Douglas Murray, Alfredo Vidaurre, and Pedro Grand. Their founding goal was bold and transformative: to craft premium-quality wines at a time when Chile was largely known for high-volume, inexpensive wine production rather than world-class bottles.

Montes didn’t just make great wine — it rewrote the story of Chilean viticulture. By insisting on premium quality, exploring new terroirs, innovating in both vineyard and cellar practices, and maintaining a deeply Chilean identity without reliance on foreign investment, Montes helped elevate the reputation of an entire nation’s wine industry.

This Montes Alpha Syrah is produced from Syrah (90%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%) and Viognier (3%). The grapes were macerated in the fermentation tank for 5 days, after which selected yeasts were added Fermentation lasted for 7–10 days. It then underwent malolactic conversion. A portion of the wine was racked into French oak barrels where it remained for 12 months while remaining wine was held in concrete tanks, before it was blended into the final wine that was bottled. [ABV: 14.5%, TA: 3.8 g/L, pH: 3.5, Residual Sugar: 3.3 g/L]

The 2022 Montes Alpha Syrah is deep purple in color with delicate aromas of black and blue berries. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has flavors of black berry and boysenberry with medium tannin and medium acidity. The oak aging adds a bit of chocolate flavor to this wine that finishes with deep, rich jammy flavor.

This 2022 Montes Alpha Syrah is an excellent example of the wines coming out of Chile’s Colchagua Valley. It’s great tasting and a super value. A perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Montes Winery via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Syrah

Syrah 🍷

Photo by Stephan Ridgway on Wikimedia Commons

The Syrah (Sih-RAH) grape was originally linked to ancient Persia or Egypt. However, DNA testing in 1998 proved that Syrah originated in France. It naturally occurred when two grape varieties from southeastern France, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche, naturally crossed.

Today, Syrah is grown all over the world. Its traditional home remains the northern Rhône Valley in France. It is also grown in Australia, where winemakers call it Shiraz. There, some of the oldest continually producing Syrah vines in the world can be found, with some planted back in 1843. You can also find it growing in large quantities across California, Washington state, South Africa, Chile, and Spain.

Wines made from Syrah have aromas of dark fruits and may also include dried herbs, black pepper and licorice.

On the palate, wines made from Syrah can have flavors of dark fruits like blackberries, blueberries, and black plums. They can also have notes of black pepper, smoke, and black licorice.

Syrah wines generally age very well. Thanks to their natural structure and dark skins, high-quality bottles can easily mature in a cellar for 5 to 10 years, and top-tier versions can evolve beautifully for over 20 years.

To get the most out of your bottle, serve Syrah slightly cool, just below room temperature, between 60°F and 65°F (15°C to 18°C). The best glassware to use is a standard red wine glass.