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Cariñena Wine Region
Vineyards in Cariñena
The Cariñena wine region is situated in the province of Zaragoza, well south of the river Ebro, northeast of Calatayud and covers an area of 16,600 hectares. The Cariñena wine region consists of 60 vineyards (Bodegas), which produce 72.6 millon liter of wine annually.
The ancient Romans founded the city of Carae in the year 50 BC in an area where the local population had been producing mead since the 3rd century BC. During the Middle Ages grape-growing and wine-making prospered under the protection of several monasteries, and by the 16th century vineyards covered 50% of the territory of the province of Zaragoza.
In 1585, King Philip II visited the town of Cariñena; the town's central water fountain ran with wine to celebrate the occasion. (This event is commemorated at the annual September wine festival, where you can see the fountain dispense wine instead of water.)
The Cariñena region is one of the oldest demarcated appellations in Europe having been awarded the status in 1932. With the changing times and driven by the market forces, the wine scenario has changed dramatically in Cariñena over the last two decades of the twentieth century. Small quality conscious estates have focussed on quality rather than quantity and the results are evident from the broader appeal of these wines. Successful experimentation with international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah has also added to the region's potential as a quality wine producer.