Merlot vs Tempranillo

Tempranillo is more tannic.

Sweetness, body, tannin and acidity are our rating of a typical dry table wine from each grape.

Merlot

Red · France, Italy

soft, plummy, round

Tempranillo

Red · Spain

red fruit, leather, vanilla from oak

Bone dry
Sweetness: Bone dry; Full
Body: Full; Medium
Tannin: High; Medium
Acidity: Medium; 13 to 14.5%
Alcohol: 13 to 14.5%; 15 to 17 °C
Serve at: 16 to 18 °C; Bordeaux, Long Island, Napa Valley, Sonoma County
Regions: Rioja, Spain, Ribera del Duero

Only Merlot

Chicken
Pork
Pasta with tomato sauce
Burgers

Both pair with

No pairing in common.

Only Tempranillo

Lamb
Charcuterie
Hard and aged cheese

Sources

Style profiles, pairings and serving figures are our own assessment. Regions and origins: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); see the Merlot and Tempranillo pages.