All this is a lot to wrap your head around, but what matters is what’s in your glass! So, to get a good feel for a truly traditional producer in Rioja, try López de Heredia, a family owned winery established in 1877 and widely considered one of the world's greatest wine estates. Known for their Tempranillo based wines sourced from the Tondonia vineyard, they age their wines in used American oak far longer than required, and only produce their Gran Reservas in the very best of vintages. If you want to kick off Tempranillo Day with a classic, this would be a great option.

For a winery as devoted to lengthy aging, but an eye towards breaking with tradition, try Bodegas Muga. Universally considered to be one of Spain’s most important winemaking families, they are the only cellar in Spain with their own master cooper and in-house barrel makers. They employ some American oak, but also age some bottlings in 100% French oak. Their spectacularly silky Prado Enea Gran Reserva spends time in both and is a real try-before-you-die Rioja.

Bodegas y Viñedas Artadi, while located in the Rioja region, famously broke with the DOCa proper, opting for a subregional designation in order to more closely associate with Rioja Alavesa. Here, the high elevation and sandy soils are known for producing particularly elegant wines. Their collection includes 100% Tempranillo single-vineyard wines, such as El Carretil, and blends of Tempranillo from their finest vineyards, often aged in 100% French oak.

Looking to Ribera del Duero, Dominio de Pingus, named in reference to Danish winemaker Peter Sisseck’s childhood nickname, is a cherished example of what the region has to offer and a spectacular choice for Tempranillo Day. Farmed biodynamically, the wines are made with minimal intervention and became an overnight success thanks to rave reviews from Robert Parker. Sisseck also crafts a line known as PSI, working with old-vine Tempranillo in a bid to help local viniculturalists preserve these rare vines.

For a full-bodied and modern representation of Ribera del Duero, look to AALTO, whose winemaker Mariano García Fernández made his name working at the lauded Vega Sicilia for 30 years before joining forces with former head of the Consejo Regulador Javier Zaccagnini at AALTO. They employ a range of oak with some aging in both French and American oak, but PS, or Pago Seleccionadas, is raised in 100% new French oak only, giving it a smoky and highly refined character.

Lastly, if you want to color outside the lines, try a Rioja style wine from Paso Robles! The 2014 Booker Tempranillo was a top-scorer. And although Tempranillo makes up the smallest of the winery’s plots, they don’t bottle it every year, making the years they do very special. The wines can age handsomely, so don’t be shy about laying them down until the time is right! And being as it is Tempranillo Day, it might just be that time.