Texas Runs on Tempranillo: 6 Spanish Reds Built for Brisket and the Steakhouse

Here is a fact that reshapes how a Texas wine list should read: the state's signature red grape is not a Texas original at all. It is Tempranillo, the noble grape of Spain's Rioja, and Texas Hill Country growers planted it because it thrives in the same hot days and cool nights that made it famous 4,800 miles away. As one Fredericksburg vintner put it, "Tempranillo is Rioja, and Rioja is Tempranillo." That means Texas palates are already wired for Spanish reds, whether the glass is poured next to a plate of smoked brisket or a dry-aged ribeye.

For sommeliers, buyers, and restaurateurs across the Lone Star State, that is an opening. Texas is one of the three largest wine-consuming states in the country, alongside California and Florida, and its wine economy drives roughly $20.35 billion in total economic activity each year according to WineAmerica's impact study. In a national market where the top quartile of wineries grew sales 8% in 2025 while the bottom quartile fell more than 10%, the wines that win are the ones with a story and a plate to sit beside. Spanish reds have both.

Key Takeaways

• Tempranillo is the signature grape of Texas Hill Country, and it came directly from Rioja.
• Texas ranks among the top three wine-consuming states in the U.S.
• Rioja's savory, oak-kissed reds are a natural match for Texas brisket, ribeye, and tapas.
• Manzanos Gran Reserva Rioja 2015 earned 95 points from Wine Enthusiast; the Reserva 2018 earned 93.
• A short, versatile Spanish red section future-proofs a Texas wine list at every price tier.

What type of wine is Texas known for?

Ask a Texas grower and the answer comes fast: Tempranillo, plus Rhone-style reds like Mourvedre and warm-climate whites such as Viognier. Tempranillo is the standard-bearer. Its flavor profile, dark cherry, plum, leather, and vanilla from oak aging, is exactly what you would write on a tasting card for a young Rioja. That shared DNA is the reason a Texas diner who loves a local Tempranillo will almost always love a Rioja Crianza or Reserva poured beside it. The bridge is already built. The job of a smart wine program is simply to walk customers across it.

This is where an importer's portfolio matters. Rioja and Navarra give you a full ladder of ripeness and price, from bright, everyday bottles to cellar-worthy Gran Reservas, all from the grape Texas already trusts.

Does Rioja pair well with steak?

Emphatically, yes. Rioja is arguably the classic steakhouse red. Tempranillo carries firm but supple tannins that scrub fat off the palate between bites, moderate acidity that keeps a rich cut from feeling heavy, and savory, leathery notes that echo a good sear. A Reserva or Gran Reserva, with its extra oak and bottle age, adds cedar and dried-fruit complexity that flatters a dry-aged ribeye or a bone-in strip. Where a big, jammy red can bully a steak, a well-made Rioja frames it.

Two Manzanos benchmarks make the case for the trade. The Manzanos Gran Reserva Rioja 2015 scored 95 points from Wine Enthusiast, and the Manzanos Reserva Rioja 2018 earned 93 points. Those are by-the-bottle numbers that sell themselves on a Texas steakhouse list, and they anchor a Spanish section with genuine critical firepower.

What wine goes with barbecue and brisket?

Texas barbecue is its own pairing puzzle. Smoke, spice, char, and sweet-tangy sauce can flatten a delicate wine. The answer is a red with enough fruit to meet the sauce and enough savory backbone to stand up to the smoke, without so much oak or alcohol that it turns hot. A youthful Tempranillo or a Rioja Crianza hits that window. The wine's smoky, spiced edge shakes hands with the bark on a brisket instead of fighting it.

• Smoked brisket: a fruit-forward Tempranillo or Rioja Crianza. The plush cherry fruit balances the sauce; the tannin cuts the fat cap.
• Pork ribs: an off-dry rosado or a lighter red served with a slight chill for spicy rubs.
• Sausage and burnt ends: a Navarra red blend with a little more heft and pepper.

What foods pair well with Rioja wine beyond the grill?

Rioja and Navarra reds are workhorses far past the steakhouse and the pit. Their acidity and savory profile make them some of the most flexible reds on any list.

• Tapas and charcuterie: jamon, chorizo, and Manchego are the grape's native companions.
• Lamb and game: an aged Reserva loves rosemary, roast lamb, and venison.
• Mushroom and tomato dishes: Tempranillo's earthy side flatters umami-rich vegetarian plates.
• Tex-Mex: a juicy young red is a smart pour with carne asada, enchiladas, and mole.

6 Spanish reds built for a Texas wine list

A tight, versatile Spanish red section does not need to be long. It needs range. Here is how our portfolio ladders up from the well pour to the cellar bottle:

• Siglo: an approachable, food-friendly Rioja that earns its place as a by-the-glass anchor and an easy yes for guests new to Spanish wine.
• Berceo: classic, cost-effective Rioja with the Crianza-style savor that makes brisket and burgers sing.
• Manzanos Reserva Rioja: the 93-point workhorse for the steak-and-lamb section of the menu.
• Manzanos Gran Reserva Rioja: the 95-point statement bottle for the reserve list and special occasions.
• Las Campanas (Navarra): bright, modern reds that widen the range beyond Rioja for adventurous drinkers.
• Voche and the Castillo de Olite / Castillo de Eneriz labels: value-driven Navarra options that round out the well and the wholesale program.

Poured together, these give a Texas buyer a Spanish shelf that speaks to the state's Tempranillo instincts at every price, from a $9 glass to a triple-digit trophy.

What wine do you drink with tapas?

Tapas culture is booming in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, and the default pour is the same grape that runs the Texas Hill Country. A young, unoaked or lightly oaked Tempranillo is the all-purpose answer: it handles salty jamon, garlicky gambas, spiced patatas bravas, and grilled vegetables without missing a beat. For a table sharing many small plates, a versatile Rioja or Navarra red beats a heavier varietal that would tire the palate three dishes in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Tempranillo so important in Texas?

Tempranillo is the signature grape of Texas Hill Country because it ripens well in the region's hot days and cooler nights, the same conditions that made it Spain's noble grape in Rioja. Its dark cherry, plum, and leather profile has made it the flagship of the Texas wine identity.

Is Rioja good with barbecue?

Yes. A young Rioja Crianza or fruit-forward Tempranillo has enough plush fruit to meet barbecue sauce and enough savory, smoky backbone to stand up to the char on brisket and ribs, while its tannin cuts through fatty cuts.

What is the difference between Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva?

They mark increasing time in oak and bottle before release. Crianza is the youngest and freshest, Reserva adds age and complexity, and Gran Reserva is the longest-aged, most cellar-worthy tier, made only in the best vintages. Higher tiers pair beautifully with aged steak and roast lamb.

Where can I buy these Spanish wines in Texas?

Manzanos Wines USA distributes across all 50 states. Consumers can find our wines near them, and trade buyers can source the full Spanish portfolio directly.

Pour the grape Texas already loves

The smartest move on a Texas wine list in 2026 is not chasing a novelty. It is leaning into what the state already drinks. Texas made Tempranillo its own; the originals from Rioja and Navarra are the natural next pour, and they were built for brisket, ribeye, and the tapas table. For wine lovers, that means a glass that turns a plate of barbecue into an event. For the trade, it means a category with proven demand and critical scores to match.

Consumers: find our wines at a shop or restaurant near you. Trade buyers, distributors, and restaurants: partner with us to bring the Spanish reds Texas is built for onto your list.

Manzanos Wines USA is the premier importer of premium wines from Spain, Italy, Chile, South Africa, and France, serving all 50 US states through our nationwide distributor network. Learn more at manzanoswinesusa.com.