About the appellation Cariñena
The Cariñena appellation is one of the wine-growing regions that gave birth and fame to the Grenache grape variety, which dominates most of these vineyards. The history of Cariñena wine dates to Roman times, when the first vines were grown on its rocky soils, which inspired the famous motto ‘Wine born of stone’ and which produce grapes that are more concentrated, intense and aromatic. The rich and varied terroirs provide the ideal conditions for expressing the full potential of the 16 authorised grape varieties, including the indigenous Grenache (black and white) and Carignan (Cariñena), the only grape variety in the world to bear the name of both a locality and a wine-growing region. The Denomination of Origin, which has been in existence for almost a century, was one of the first to be established in Spain, which played a leading role in the innovation of cultivation and production techniques.
About Cariñena, European City of Wine 2025
The town of Cariñena has been named this year's European City of Wine, a recognition that highlights its rich wine-growing history, the excellence of its wines and its commitment to innovation in the sector. The title, awarded by the European Network of Wine Cities (RECEVIN) on the initiative of the town council, makes Cariñena an international benchmark for wine culture, underlining its ability to reconcile tradition and modernity. Throughout the year, the town will be the epicentre of a wide range of cultural, wine tourism and gastronomic activities celebrating its wine heritage and its influence on the identity of Aragon and Europe.
About Zaragoza, the Grenache Capital of the World
Zaragoza is aiming to become the Grenache capital of the world, with the aim of turning itself into a centre for wine tourism and gastronomy based around this grape variety, in collaboration with the province's three designations of origin - Calatayud, Campo de Borja and Cariñena - which produce Grenache wines of great character. Among the events that Zaragoza will be promoting this year are wine tours and tastings in its cellars, an international scientific symposium on the grape variety and the first Grenache Festival.
