tempranillo

noun

tem·​pra·​nil·​lo ˌtem-prə-ˈnē(l)-(ˌ)yō 

variants or less commonly Tempranillo

plural tempranillos or less commonly Tempranillos

: a full-bodied red wine that is notably used in the production of Rioja

also : the grape itself

Examples of tempranillo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hot summers and cold nights that keep the grapes from going soft make this an ideal place to grow tempranillo, syrah and malbec, Rob Folin told me in a phone interview. — Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2026

Then it was aged in a variety of casks—tempranillo wine, port, Pedro Ximenez sherry, ex-bourbon, Cooper’s Reserve, Cooper’s Select, and of course garryana oak (both first and second fill)—and bottled at 100 proof. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2025

The climate mirrors Spain's Rioja region, home to the tempranillo grape. — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025

That includes a $12 Six Hats pinotage from South Africa, a $10 Melea tempranillo from Spain, and a $12 Dashe Chenin Blanc from California. — David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, masculine derivative of tempranilla "early-ripening grape," from temprano "early" (going back to Late Latin temporānus, variant of temporāneus "happening at the right time, seasonable" from Latin tempor-, tempus "time" + -āneus, as in Late Latin extemporāneus extemporaneous) + -illa, feminine diminutive suffix

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tempranillo

• armadillo
• billow
• pillow
• caudillo