Wines from aragon

Aragon is concentrating on improving its production techniques, selecting the grape varieties with an eye to quality, and streamlining traditional cultivation methods. The progress that's been made is noteworthy, though more pronounced in some regions than others; all the areas are aiming once and for all to get rid of their reputation for high-alcohol, unsophisticated wines.

In the Huesca Somontano region, they've already managed it, producing some wines with good character; and in Calatayud and Campo de Borja as well, to a lesser extent. Carinena, with its more rigid production structures, is lagging behind a little. The continental nature of the climate, which affects all the areas, determines the character of the wines and sometimes produces extreme ups and downs in the results.

Campo de Borja
This Designation of Origin from Aragon straddles the regions of Rioja and Carinena on one of the sides of the Moncayo which are the main mountain range to be found in the area. It has an extreme continental climate, having hot, dry summers and very cold winters. The fogs which are brought from the Ebro River give it a certain added humidity.

To complement the Garnacha grape, which constitutes more than 80% of the vineyard, other species such as Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Cabernet Sauvignon have been allowed on the land to help in modifying the style of the highly rated young wines.

Campo de Borja offers some differences in relation to the neighbouring and more famous Carinena. Even though they share the vigour of the Carinena wines, they are denser, have more body, with clear frutal aromas and great personality. When they are well produced, they have good balance and are both energetic and singular.

Somontano
The Somontano region has gained a reputation and a name for itself thanks to the efforts of certain wineries with a real love of the art of winemaking which have been developing some interesting white wines from varieties like Riesling, Chardonnay and Chenin, and reds from Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties. The region is a small one situated on a high plateau between the foothills of the Pyrennees and the Ebro lowlands.

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