Tempranillo is one of Spain’s most representative red grape varieties; it is believed to have originated in the Rioja region and probably developed in the Ebro basin over the course of the last millennium. Genetic analyses have identified its parent varieties as Albillo Mayor and Benedicto. The name refers to its early ripening, a characteristic that has facilitated its spread even to areas with a cooler climate. The vine has large, pentagonal mature leaves, generally three- or five-lobed, with a petiole sinus that is often overlapping and a tomentose underside; the bunch is medium to large, elongated and sometimes compact, whilst the berry is medium-sized, rounded, with a thick blue-black skin and unpigmented, juicy and tender flesh. It is widely cultivated in Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro, Navarre and Castilla-La Mancha, where it is also known as Tinto Fino, Tinta del País or Cencibel; in Portugal, it corresponds mainly to Aragonez and Tinta Roriz, whilst it is also found in other wine-producing countries, including Argentina and Australia. The wines are characterised by an intense ruby colour, with aromas of cherry, plum, strawberry, wild berries and violet, underpinned by good structure, balanced tannins and a level of freshness that varies according to the terroir. Its natural aptitude for ageing allows for complex developments towards notes of vanilla, cocoa, liquorice and ripe fruit, with significant longevity.