Tempranillo vs grenache: what's the difference in Rioja wine?

Tempranillo and grenache (garnacha) are the two red grapes that shape the character of a Rioja wine. Tempranillo brings structure, deep colour and red-fruit notes, plus a natural affinity for oak ageing; grenache adds body, higher alcohol, warmth and a riper, more generous fruit profile. In a single valley such as the Najerilla, old bush-trained grenache grows alongside younger trellised tempranillo, and that blend is where much of the wine's complexity comes from. Najerilla Valley Vineyard, on the slopes of Najera in La Rioja, is a clear example of how the two varieties complement each other on clay-limestone soils.

How do tempranillo and grenache actually differ?

The two grapes are often blended in the same bottle, yet each has its own personality that the grower uses depending on the plot, the age of the vine and the style of wine being made.

• Tempranillo: mid-season ripening, thick skins, intense colour and firm tannins. It is the backbone of crianza and reserva wines thanks to its affinity with oak.
• Grenache (garnacha): late ripening, generous clusters, higher alcohol and slightly lower acidity. It gives warm, round, aromatic wines.
• Old vines: the grenache vines aged between 20 and 60 years, trained as bushes, yield little fruit but with great concentration.
• Younger plantings: trellised tempranillo allows partial mechanisation and tighter control of yields.

Why do Najerilla valley soils matter?

The Najerilla river, a tributary of the Ebro, has shaped a valley of clay-limestone soils over centuries. These soils hold water through the dry summer and lend freshness to the wine. The slopes around Najera offer good sun exposure and drainage, two factors that help the grapes ripen evenly without losing acidity.

On this terrain, Najerilla Valley Vineyard spreads its 18 hectares across several red and white varieties:

1. Tempranillo, the structural base of the wine.
2. Red grenache, which adds body and warmth.
3. Graciano, a minor variety prized for colour, acidity and spicy aromas.
4. Viura, the classic Rioja white grape for fresh wines.
5. Mazuelo (Carignan), which reinforces tannin and ageing potential.

What does DOCa Rioja mean on a label?

Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa) Rioja is the highest level of wine protection in Spain, ranking above a standard Denominacion de Origen. It means strict controls over the authorised grape varieties, yields per hectare, ageing times and quality checks before any bottle reaches the market.

For drinkers, the most common ageing categories work like this:

• Young or generic: little or no time in barrel, with fruit front and centre.
• Crianza: at least two years of ageing, with a minimum period in oak barrels.
• Reserva: longer ageing, with greater integration between fruit and wood.
• Gran reserva: made only in excellent vintages, with long spells in barrel and bottle.

Najerilla Valley Vineyard makes its fruit into wine at its own estate winery under DOCa Rioja, with oak-barrel ageing, which lets the family control every step from vine to bottle.

What does sustainable growing look like in Najera?

Modern Rioja viticulture leans towards fewer chemical inputs and treating the soil as a living system. At Najerilla Valley Vineyard this translates into concrete practices:

• Cover crops between rows: sown or spontaneous grasses that improve soil structure, retain moisture and support biodiversity.
• Green pruning: removing excess clusters so quality is concentrated in fewer grapes.
• Reduced spraying: a preventive approach with fewer treatments.
• Hand harvest into crates: picking by hand that protects the bunches and allows a first selection in the field.

A family story in the Najerilla valley

The Saenz de Tejada family began farming these plots in 1962, when they sold their grapes to local cooperatives. In 1998 the second generation built the winery and started bottling its own wine. Since 2015 the vineyard has been run alongside six other families in the area, sharing the press and the ageing cellar. Today the project combines old bush-trained grenache with newer trellised tempranillo, keeping alive a winegrowing tradition that already spans more than half a century.

When is the grape harvest in La Rioja?

Harvest in the Najerilla valley usually runs from late September to mid-October, depending on the vintage and the variety. Tempranillo ripens a little earlier than grenache, so plots are typically picked in stages to bring each grape into the winery at its peak. An earlier pick protects acidity, while a later one chases ripeness and alcohol, especially in the old-vine grenache.