The most famous red grape of Spain, Tempranillo is the the principal component of wines made in Rioja, Ribero del Duero and Toro, among others. Its name is the diminutive of the Spanish temprano (“”early””), a reference to the fact that it ripens several weeks earlier than most Spanish red grapes. In Rioja, Tempranillo is usually blended with Garnacha (Grenache) and Mazuelo (Carignan) to which it adds red fruit like plum and strawberries to the blend.