The Cariñena wine region was named an official Denominacion de Origen in 1932. In 2011 Cariñena was declared a “Protected†area. Protected designation is an extra layer of control over what grapes are grown and how the wine is made. The region survived the Phylloxera blight that devastated most of Europe’s vineyards in the 1860’s. The reason, the mite that causes this vine disease could not survive in the stone soil of this region. This soil is unique to this wine growing area and the Cariñena wineries have adopted the mantra “Crafted in Stone.†The terroir of the region is also influenced by the Ebro River and Valley. The vineyards are located from 1300 to 2600 feet in elevation. There are very large differences between day and nighttime temperatures. Add in the Cierzo winds, and you have the total factors that give the Cariñena wines their character.
Every time I prepare dinner for my friends, I ask myself the same questions: Which wine do I serve with...
