Toro

Toro is a bold, dry red from Castilla y León in northwestern Spain, made mainly from a local expression of Tempranillo known as Tinta de Toro. Expect blackberry, black cherry and plum with spice, cocoa and smoky oak. Full-bodied and powerful, it’s brilliant with steak, roast beef, lamb, BBQ ribs, burgers and slow-cooked meat.

Taste:

Tempranillo has been hitting the gym.

Toro is typically dry, full-bodied and deeply coloured, with firm tannins and plenty of concentrated dark fruit. Expect blackberry, black cherry and plum, sometimes joined by blueberry and ripe red fruit.

There’s usually plenty happening beyond the fruit too, with black pepper, spice and liquorice often appearing. Oak-aged versions can add vanilla, cedar, toast, coffee, cocoa and smoky flavours.

Toro’s sunny climate can produce wines with impressive ripeness and alcohol, but good examples balance all that power with enough freshness to keep things moving.

If bold Spanish reds are your thing, Toro isn't going to leave you wondering where the flavour went.

Food Pairings:

Toro has the power for big, rich meat dishes.

Steak is an excellent place to start, particularly ribeye, sirloin, fillet or steak with peppercorn sauce. It’s equally at home with roast beef, beef short ribs, slow-cooked beef, beef stew, beef casserole and brisket.

For lamb, try roast lamb, lamb chops, lamb shank or grilled lamb kebabs. The wine’s dark fruit and spice work particularly well with garlic, rosemary and smoky flavours.

Toro is also a great BBQ wine. Pair it with BBQ ribs, burgers, grilled steak, smoky sausages, brisket or barbecued lamb.

For Spanish-inspired food, try chorizo, meatballs, jamón, grilled meats or a charcuterie board with Manchego.

Rich mushroom dishes, lentil stew and smoky grilled vegetables are great meat-free options.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Toro, Ribera del Duero is a must-try. Both showcase Tempranillo in a rich, powerful style, although each region brings its own personality.

Rioja is the obvious Spanish classic to explore for Tempranillo with plenty of oak-ageing potential, while Priorat is worth trying if concentrated dark fruit and serious structure are what you're after.

You might also enjoy Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon if it's the full body and dark fruit that won you over.

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More About Toro:

Toro is a wine region in Castilla y León in northwestern Spain, sitting along the Duero River west of Ribera del Duero.

Its signature grape is Tinta de Toro, the local name and expression of Tempranillo. The region's high altitude, hot summers, cold winters and dry conditions help create intensely flavoured grapes with thick skins and plenty of structure.

Toro also has some remarkably old vineyards, including vines that survived the phylloxera epidemic that devastated much of Europe's vineyards in the 19th century.

Same grape family as Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but Toro has never been particularly interested in playing the quiet sibling.