Level 2 · Wine & Spirits Exam Prep
Tempranillo
Spain's most important red grape — Rioja, Ribera del Duero.
Topics covered
- Rioja classifications
- Ribera del Duero
- Oak ageing categories
- Tinta Roriz in Portugal
Quick Revision
- Spain's flagship red grape
- Red/black cherry, leather, tobacco
- Rioja: Joven → Crianza → Reserva → Gran Reserva
- American oak = vanilla/coconut in Rioja
- Ribera del Duero: powerful, concentrated
- Portugal: Tinta Roriz / Aragonês (same grape)
Key Facts for the Exam
- Spain's most important red grape; also grown in Portugal as Tinta Roriz/Aragonês
- Medium to full body, medium-high tannin, medium acidity; red and black cherry, leather, tobacco
- Rioja: classic oak-aged style; ageing categories — Joven, Crianza (2y+), Reserva (3y+), Gran Reserva (5y+)
- Ribera del Duero: a more powerful, concentrated style with higher altitude freshness
- Typically aged in American oak (vanilla, coconut) historically; trend towards French oak
- Toro: even more concentrated, powerful style from hotter meseta plateau
Level 2 Exam Tips
- 1.Rioja ageing categories (Joven/Crianza/Reserva/Gran Reserva) and their minimum requirements are exam facts.
- 2.Tempranillo = Tinta Roriz in the Douro (Portugal) and Aragonês in Alentejo — name variation question.
- 3.American oak gives Rioja its classic vanilla/coconut character — French oak is a more modern approach.
- 4.Ribera del Duero is at higher altitude than Rioja — this gives freshness to a powerful style.
Common Exam Mistakes
- ✗Getting Rioja ageing categories wrong — Crianza (not Reserva) is the minimum 2-year aged style
- ✗Forgetting Tempranillo is called Tinta Roriz in Portugal — a very common name-change question
- ✗Thinking all Rioja tastes the same — Rioja Alta (cooler, more elegant) vs Rioja Oriental (warmer, riper)
Key Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do the Rioja ageing categories mean?
- Rioja's age-based categories indicate minimum time in barrel and bottle. Joven (young) is for early-drinking wines with little or no oak. Crianza must age at least 2 years (1 in oak). Reserva needs 3 years total (1 in oak). Gran Reserva requires 5 years (2 in oak). Each category represents increasing complexity and oak character.