Garnacha from Cariñena
DOP Cariñena is the second oldest wine region in Spain. Located in the heart of the country’s northeast region of Aragón, 
Cariñena’s history of winemaking dates back to the Romans. Flanked by the Pyrenees and France to the north and Catalunya to the east, the region has always flown under-the-radar. One great grape variety – Garnacha – is changing all of that. And for a very good reason: there is more old vine Garnacha planted in Cariñena than in any other region of Spain. A new generation of winemakers is transforming this natural resource into wines of outstanding character and concentration.
Planted at high altitude, the vineyards of Cariñena descend into windswept plains that benefit from a range of extreme day-to-night temperature differences, providing the ideal conditions for rich, expressive wines crafted from layers of rock, mineral, and earth. Old vines make for some very expressive wines, then and now. In 1415, King Ferdinand I of Aragón proclaimed his preference for wines from Cariñena over all others. In 1932, Cariñena became the second wine region in Spain named an official Denomination of Origin, and in 2011, it was elevated to Protegida (DOP) status. Now recognized as the birthplace of Garnacha, one of the world’s classic varieties, DOP Cariñena was named a region to watch in early 2017.
Join us for our Discovery Session on Friday, November 10 from 2:25 to 3:25. Lyn Farmer – a James Beard Award-winning wine and food writer and educator – will guide attendees on a tasting experience through the intense flavors of a range of Cariñena wines, one of his favorite regions. “One of the greatest thrills for a wine lover is discovering a new source for a grape you already love, an experience I had when discovering both Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan) in their home region,” says Lyn. “In DOP Cariñena, there are dozens of stories to be shared over wine sourced from old vines that yield great quality at shockingly reasonable prices.” Attendees will explore the numerous styles of wines cultivated in the region, influenced by its varying elevations, terroir, winemaking techniques, and more.
Lyn will also provide a preview of the upcoming Global Garnacha Summit, which will be hosted by DOP Cariñena at COPIA in Napa Valley. Scheduled to take place in Spring 2018, this event is the first of its kind. Key Garnacha-growing regions from around the globe will participate including Spain, France, and California, as participants get to the root of this popular grape variety and the profound range of styles that it is known for. Read more: www.thenextgreatgrape.com
I am ready to attend this event. Spain has so many great regions who are under appreciated.