From Tempranillo October to Garnacha November in High Five Wine Academy
Two glasses of Spanish red sit on your kitchen counter. One smells of cherry, cedar and a little vanilla. The other bursts with ripe strawberry, raspberry jam and a pinch of white pepper. Same country. Often the same vineyard rows. Completely different personalities.
That is the story of Spanish Tempranillo vs. Garnacha, and it is exactly what we are exploring in High Five Wine Academy. All October, our online wine club has been scoring Spanish Tempranillo. In November, we stay in Spain and turn the spotlight on her fun-loving sister, Garnacha, and we will score every bottle using the High Five Wine Scoring System.
Here's the hook: if you have ever stood in the wine aisle holding two Spanish bottles and thought, "I have no idea which one I'll actually like," this is your month. November is the perfect time to join High Five Wine Academy with a monthly membership, because we are starting a brand-new grape from week one. No need to catch up, we meet you where you’re at. No wine snobbery. Just your mid-week self care break, a great bottle and a community of women learning what theylove about the wines they enjoy.
I'm Tonia, your wine coach, and in this guide I'll walk you through how these two Spanish reds compare, how to find them on a shelf, and how to start scoring them like a pro.
Meet the Sisters: Spain's Two Great Red Grapes
Tempranillo: The Polished Older Sister
Tempranillo gets its name from temprano, the Spanish word for "early," because it ripens weeks ahead of other Spanish reds. It is a thick-skinned grape, so it gives deep colour, firm tannins and a structure that loves oak and time in the cellar. Think of her as the sister who shows up in a tailored blazer: elegant, savoury and a little serious.
If you missed our October deep dive, read Spanish Tempranillo: The Complete Guide to Spain's Noble Red Grape for everything on Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva and how these aging requirements impact the wines in your glass.
Garnacha: The Fun-Loving Younger Sister
Garnacha is a thin-skinned grape that ripens late and loves heat, wind and dry, rocky soils. That gives a lighter colour, softer tannins, juicy red fruit and often a little more alcohol. She is the sister who arrives with a big laugh, a bouquet of flowers and dessert.
You already know her better than you think. In France she goes by Grenache, the "G" in the famous GSM blends and the star of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In Sardinia, Italy she is Cannonau. And she is a key blending partner in many Rioja bottles you scored this October.
One grape is not better than the other. The real question, and the whole point of High Five Wine Scoring System, is to discover which one your palate prefers and why.
Spanish Tempranillo vs. Garnacha at a Glance
Here is the quick cheat sheet. Screenshot it for your next trip to the wine store.
Tempranillo | Garnacha | |
|---|---|---|
Colour | Deep ruby to garnet | Lighter ruby, sometimes translucent |
Body | Medium to full | Medium, can be full in warm regions |
Tannin | Medium to high, firm | Low to medium, soft and silky |
Acidity | Medium | Medium to low |
Alcohol | Moderate | Often higher (14%+) |
Fruit | Cherry, plum, dried fig | Strawberry, raspberry, red cherry jam |
Spice and earth | Cedar, tobacco, leather, dill, vanilla | White pepper, cinnamon, licorice, dried herbs |
Oak | Loves it, often aged for years | Often little or no oak, fruit-first |
Signature regions | Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro | Campo de Borja, Calatayud, Cariñena, Priorat, Navarra |
Personality | Polished and savoury | Juicy, warm and playful |
Coaching tip: if you love smooth, fruity reds like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais, you may find Garnacha an easy favourite. If you lean toward Cabernet Sauvignon or bold, structured reds, Tempranillo might be your girl. Then again, your palate may surprise you. That's what scoring is for. The book is the tool and the club is the practice.
Tasting Notes: What You'll Find in Your Glass
Spanish Tempranillo Tasting Notes
Cherry, plum, raspberry, cedar, dill, vanilla, coconut, tobacco, leather, dried fig and clay. Young Joven bottles are lean, fresh and fruity. Reserva and Gran Reserva bottles lend themselves to more savoury notes with layers and complexity from oak and bottle aging.
Spanish Garnacha Tasting Notes
Strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, candied fruit, white pepper, cinnamon, licorice, orange peel and dried Mediterranean herbs like thyme and rosemary. Old-vine Garnacha adds depth, with darker fruit and a velvety texture.
Where Spanish Garnacha Grows
Garnacha thrives in the warm, dry northeast of Spain. Knowing these region names is your secret weapon, because many Spanish labels show the place, not the grape.
- Campo de Borja: Nicknamed the "Empire of Garnacha," known for juicy, great-value bottles from old vines.
- Calatayud: High-altitude vineyards give fresher, brighter Garnacha with lovely acidity.
- Cariñena: One of Spain's oldest wine regions, with ripe, generous Garnacha at friendly prices.
- Priorat: Steep slate slopes produce powerful, mineral Garnacha blends. A splurge bottle.
- Navarra: Famous for gorgeous Garnacha rosado, plus easy-drinking reds.
- Sierra de Gredos: Near Madrid, this region makes lighter, more delicate Garnacha that wine lovers adore.
Tempranillo, by contrast, sits mostly in the cooler, higher regions of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, with bold versions from Toro.
How to Find Spanish Garnacha on the Shelf
Here's how High Five Wine Academy is different from every other wine club in Canada: I don't ship you wine. I choose the grape and the place, and you choose the label and your price point. Why? Because the goal is confidence. When you can walk into any store and pick a bottle you'll love, you never need a wine club to choose for you again.
So here's your November shopping homework:
- Look for the word Garnacha (or Garnatxa in Catalonia) on the front or back label.
- Look for the region names above, especially Campo de Borja, Calatayud and Cariñena for great value.
- Check the back label for "red wine" if you spot Navarra, since the region makes lots of rosado too.
- Watch for "old vines" or "viñas viejas" for a richer, deeper style.
- Grab two or three different regions so you can compare them side by side. In November we are scoring one every Wednesday!
Scoring Garnacha with the High Five Wine Scoring System
This is where the magic happens. Instead of sipping and saying "mmm, nice," members use the High Five Wine Scoring System to score every bottle and record it in their wine journal. Week by week, the scores reveal a pattern: what you love, what you don't, and how to drink more of what makes you happy.
It is wine for beginners and wine lovers alike. No sommelier vocabulary required, just your own palate and an honest score.
Want to start scoring at home? My High Five Wine book and wine journal walks you through the full High Five Wine Scoring System, step by step, so you can learn about wine on your own terms. It's the perfect companion for Wine Wednesday.
Wine and Food Pairing: Tempranillo vs. Garnacha
Both grapes are food-friendly, but they shine with different dishes.
Pair Tempranillo with roast lamb, grilled steak, chorizo, mushroom dishes, Manchego and slow-braised short ribs. Its firm tannins and savoury notes love rich, meaty meals.
Pair Garnacha with roast chicken, pork tenderloin, grilled sausages, pizza, tomato-based stews, barbecue and spiced dishes like Moroccan tagine. Its soft tannins and juicy fruit also make it one of the best reds for the holiday table, from turkey to cranberry sauce.
Inside the club, you won't have to guess. Every week, members get a carefully curated wine and food pairing recipe card to match the wine we're scoring. That means one dinner a week is already planned for you, and your mid-week self care break becomes an impromptu date night.
Don't have a spouse? Date yourself!
November Is Garnacha Month in High Five Wine Academy
October was Tempranillo. November is Garnacha.
And honestly? There has never been a better time to join.
We start fresh in week one, so you'll be scoring right alongside everyone else from the very first bottle. By the end of the month, you'll know if you're Team Garnacha and you'll have the scores in your wine journal to prove it.
What Your Monthly Membership Includes
- A carefully curated wine and food pairing recipe card every week
- Member-only Wine Wednesday sessions with me, your wine coach, live on Zoom from the comfort of your own home
- Label-reading coaching so you can shop any wine aisle with confidence
- A community of women who show up every week, laugh a lot and become your wine besties
This is more than an online wine club. It's your mid-week self care break, your Wednesday night IN and the most fun way to learn about wine in Canada.
Ready to find out which Spanish sister you love? 👉 Join High Five Wine Academy with a monthly membershipbefore our first Garnacha Wine Wednesday in November.
Not ready to join yet? Start with my High Five Wine book and wine journal and begin scoring at home.
Cheers and high fives,
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