The ultimate A-Z of grapes: T

Tannat

A red wine grape, historically grown in South West France in the Madiran AOC and is now one of the most prominent grapes in Uruguay, where it is considered the “national grape”.

A French Tannat is characterized by its firm, tannic structure with raspberry aromas and the ability to age well. They often have a deep dark color with high level of alcohol. Tannat wines produced in Uruguay are characterized by more elegant and softer tannins and blackberry fruit notes.

Tempranillo

Tempranillo is a variety of black grape widely grown to make full-bodied red wines. It is the main grape used in Rioja, and is often referred to as Spain’s “noble grape”. Tempranillo wines can be consumed young, but the most expensive ones are aged for several years in oak barrels. The wines are ruby red in colour, with aromas and flavors of berries, plum, tobacco, vanilla, leather and herbs.

Terret Noir

Terret Noir is a red wine grape that is grown in the Rhone Valley and is a permitted blending grape for Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Terret Noir produces a light color wine that is perfumed and tart

Tinta Barroca

Tinta Barroca is a Portuguese red wine grape that is grown primarily in the Douro region. In Portugal, it is a common blending grape in Port wine while in South Africa it is normally made into a varietal.

Tinta Cao

Tinta Cao is a Portuguese red wine grape that has been grown primarily in the Douro region since the sixteenth century. The vine produces very low yields which has led it close to extinction despite the high quality of wine that it can produce.

Torrontes

Torrontes is the characteristic white wine grape of Argentina, producing fresh, aromatic white wines. In fact, the name is given to three criolla varieties in Argentina, Torrontés Riojano which is most common, Torrontés Sanjuanino and Torrontés Mendocino. A grape called Torrontés is found in Galicia in Spain – the relationship to the Argentine varieties is uncertain.

Touriga Francesa

Touriga Francesa (or Touriga Franca) is one of the major grape varieties used to produce port wine. Touriga Francesa is lighter and more perfumed than Touriga Nacional and adds finesse to this powerful wine.

Touriga Nacional

Touriga Nacional is a variety of red wine grape, considered by many to be Portugal’s finest. Despite the notoriously low yields from its small grapes, it plays a big part in the blends used for the best ports, and is increasingly being used for table wine in the Douro and Dão.
Touriga Nacional provides structure and body to wine, with high tannins and concentrated flavours of black fruit.

Trebbiano

Trebbiano is a grape variety that probably makes more white wine in the world than any other. It can be fresh and fruity, but doesn’t keep long. Also known as Ugni Blanc, it has many other names reflecting a family of local subtypes, particularly in Italy and France. Perhaps the most successful Trebbiano-based blend are the Orvieto whites of Umbria. Known in France as Ugni Blanc.