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November 17, 2018 Circulation: 675,940

3 Red Wines to Pair with Your Thanksgiving

By Hvwinegoddess When I think of Thanksgiving wine I usually think of white or Pinot Noir, but recently I’ve begun to think outside of the box. I’m getting bored with the originals. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Pinot Noir and Chardonnay but I like to try wines that are different, perhaps a new grape to me, new region or country and see where they fit with my pairings.I got introduced to the Cariñena region recently during #Winestudio where we tasted through their Granacha. But did you know that Cariñena is a region as well as a grape? That grape makes a great wine for your Thanksgiving table. It’s light bodied, smooth tannins with flavors of red and black fruit.

The Region D.O.P Cariñena is located in the heart of the Ebro Valley in the northeast region of Aragon. The Pyrenees region and France are to the north and the Catalunya region is to the east. The vineyards are planted at high altitudes between 1,300 feet and 2,600 feet.

The Grape Cariñena as it’s know in Span is known as Carignan in France and other parts of the world. It is a black skinned native to the Aragon region of Spain. The grape grows as a bush vine and is hand harvested. As a late ripening grape it prefers a warm and dry climate. The flavor characteristics of this grape tend to be dark red and black fruits, spice, licorice, pepper and earthy flavors.

The Wine Paniza Cariñena 2016 100% Cariñena grapes fermented in stainless steel tanks. Nice ruby red in color and light on your palate. Flavors of red raspberry, hint of cranberry and spice.

3C Cariñena 2016 Grandes VinosSourced from 45 year old vines this wine had nice acidity and light soft tannins. Light bodied, layered black and red fruit with a burst of blackberry and spice on the finish fading with a tingling of acidity.

Particular Cariñena 2016 Bodegas San ValeroAromas of blackberry, plum, ripe red berry and anise lead to a smooth soft palate, nice acidity with red fruit and red licorice on the finish.Any or all three of these red wines will go great with your Thanksgiving meal.

#CoolDownWithCarinena

September 24, 2018 Circulation: 5,000

84 Bodegas Paniza 2017 Viura & Chardonnay Agostón Cariñena12.5% Named for the sturdy-looking wild boar on the yellow-green and black label, this light white’s packaging isn’t suggesting that you eat boar with this wine, but rather informing you of what the local boars prefer in the vineyard: Viura and Chardonnay.

The idea definitely translates into the wine with its forward, youthful grapiness and crisp-sweet appeal of super pure flavors. It tastes of cantaloupe, honeydew melon and Thompson Seedless grapes with a suspicion of sweetness on the attack followed by a fresh and fast finish. Served ice cold on a boiling hot day, this will offer broad appeal.

Drink: Through 2018 87 Grandes Vinos y Viñedos 2017 Garnacha Blanca Corona d’Aragon Cariñena 12.5% This is a lovely expression of Garnacha Blanca with a vaguely floral nose sitting atop sublimely pure fruit flavors of Canary melon, white peach and green apple. Svelte on the attack with a lightly creamy sensation, this wine’s gentle acidity gracefully disappears into its seamless structure. This wine’s rather light body is almost betrayed by its pleasantly expansive palate feel. There’s a bit of pleasantly pithy tangerine peel on the moderate finish. This was closed and confected when I first opened it (possibly due to its synthetic cork?) yesterday evening, but today at noon it’s roaring at full blast, having been stored overnight in the fridge with just a stopper in the bottle.

Drink: 2018-19 87 Bodegas San Valero 2016 Garnacha Rosado Origium Cariñena 12.5% Brightly colored, fully dry and plump with flavor, this wine is a crowd-pleaser. Strawberries, blueberries and sweet and savory spices crowd onto the palate, which is round, supple and easy. Everything is smartly integrated. There’s lovely vinosity backed-up with good refreshment and delightful moreish-ness. This is the kind of rosé I adore, and it’s a plus that the wine is much less expensive than many of the less interesting, pale, leesy and vaguely ripe pinks that are so sadly prevalent today.

Drink: 2018-19

August 23, 2018 Circulation 5000

Grandes Vinos y Viñedos ‘Corona de Aragon’ Garnacha Blanca Cariñena 2017 Cara Rutherford

Estate: Grandes Vinos y Viñedos is located in the heart of Cariñena, the vineyards are spread across 14 towns in the region at the bottom of the Algairén and Pecos mountain ranges. The estate is “committed to combining environmental protection with the best quality possible of wine production”. Environmental preservation methods as rainfall irrigation and solar energy have led them to become a leader in the region for environmental research and innovation.

Philosophy: The “wines are produced based on three fundamental aspects that form the essence of each one of them: the land, the climate and the variety”.

Winemaking: Garnacha grapes are from vines 5 years in age at 650 meters in elevation, Chardonnay from vines 25 years old at 450 meters.

Tasting Notes: Pale gold in colour with aromas of honeysuckle, pear and white pepper. Green apple, pear and orange blossom are accented by fresh citrus acidity, finishing dry and crisp. A refreshing, summery sip, great on its own and super versatile at the table. [Paired with homemade cannelli bean/quinoa/cheddar/jalapeño veggie burgers with guacamole.]

Pairing Suggestion from the Winery: Perfect pairing with vegetables, rice and pasta, also with seafood and Asian cuisine.

87% White Garnacha, 13% Chardonnay Cariñena Spain Bottled by Grandes Vinos y Viñedos 12.5% Alcohol $10 [average price] Enjoy now

August 14, 2018 Circulation 210,000

#CoolDownwithCariñena #Wine: “Crafted in Stone” Todd Godbout Cariñena is not only the second oldest region in Spain, but is also home to its own varietal and appellation.

Cariñena (Carignane) is a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) located in the Ebro Valley of Aragón midway between Barcelona and Madrid that was designated in 1932 although it's winemaking traditions can be documented as far back as the early 15th century. In fact the region's vines survived the devastating European Phylloxera epidemic because the lousy mite that caused the disease couldn't survive the soil's stoney and sandy nature and a marketing mantra “Crafted in Stone” is now utilized. Grape quality is not only maintained from these well drained soils but also the large diurnal temperature swings due to the region's elevation, proximity to the Ebro River and the Cierzo winds. These factors help the Garnacha, Cariñena, Mazuelo, Tempranillo, Viura, Chardonnay, and Parellada grapes develop character and retain acidity. Today the Cariñena wine region boasts 1,600 growers; 35,000 acres of vines; with many of theses small growers belonging to cooperative wineries. I recently received two white wines and a rosé that the refreshing nature of wine from this region as well as a Cariñena Regional recipe. It's time to #CoolDownwithCariñena. Cheers.

2017 Corona D Aragon Garnacha Blanc D.O.P. Cariñena - includes some Chardonnay - lemon and fresh pear on the nose, stronger grapefruit and shades of minerals, before finishing with a fresh finale.

2017 Paniza Viura-Chardonnay D.O.P. Cariñena - this is a 50-50 blend of the two grape varieties that provides citrus, cream, and softness before leaving with a lingering and lively finish.

2017 Bodegas San Valero Particular Garnacha Rosé - is all berries throughout the experience, depth and minerals, and lively refreshing acids.

July 1, 2018 Circulation: 67.000

The Birthplace of Garnacha

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Offers the World Distinctive New Wines Cultivated From Old Vines

Carinena

Comes of Age Master Sommelier Bob Bath crouches among Garnacha vines of Bodegas Paniza in the highest and most remote part of southwestern CariĂąena, where slate-laden soils dominate most of the hillside vineyards.

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by Bob Bath, MS / photos by Miguel Vincente

here’s something wonderfully unique about Spanish wine, and, in my experience, it’s impossible to fall in love with a particular grape or wine: You fall in love with the entire region.

My most recent affair is with Garnacha and its home region of Cariñena, located in Aragón in northeastern Spain. Though it lacks the notoriety of regions such as Rioja or Ribera del Duero—despite being the country’s second oldest DO—its connection to the Garnacha grape makes Cariñena a noteworthy experience based on its history, current winemaking, and future prospects.

Local historical references to Garnacha in Aragón, the birthplace of the grape, date back to 1513 in Gabriel Alonso de Herrera’s Agricultural General. History, coupled with the sheer amount of clonal diversity and mutations of the grape in the region, counter any claims Sardinia has made of being its alternative place of origin. As the third most-planted variety in Spain, Garnacha has never lost its significance in the country. The region of Cariñena is renowned for having the highest density of Garnacha plantings, with the grape representing nearly a third of the entire vineyard acreage.

Local historical references to Garnacha in Aragón, the birthplace of the grape, date back to 1513 in Gabriel Alonso de Herrera’s Agricultural General.

Bob Bath, MS, tastes through a series of Garnacha samples at Bodegas Paneza.

Garnacha reached Sardinia, as well as southern France, likely by way of the Aragón empire. One of Europe’s most powerful regimes from the 15th through the 17th centuries, it spread as far north as southern France and as far south as Sicily. Such expansion explains the presence of Garnacha in regions such as Languedoc Roussillon and the Rhône.

Zaragoza, Aragón’s historic capital, sits halfway between Madrid and Barcelona and is located on El Camino de Santiago. The globally-celebrated road leads to the legendary burial spot of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, and is known as an inspiring pilgrimage for travelers to the region. As you step out of the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, you immediately notice the path of seashells imprinted in the sidewalk, indicating the way.

South of Zaragoza on a large plain in the heart of the Ebro Valley is where you will find the majority of Cariñena vineyards. Rimmed by the Systema Iberico { SOMMjournal.com } 77

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Zaragoza, Aragón’s historic capital, sits halfway between Madrid and Barcelona and is located on El Camino de Santiago. The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, built between 1681 and 1754, is reputed to be the first church in history dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Mountains to the south and the majestic, snow-topped Moncayo Massif to the north, vines are planted at 1,000 to nearly 3,000 feet above sea level. It only takes a brief visit to the Sanctuary of Nuesta Senora, just outside Paniza, to feel the Cierzo. This chilling wind provides a cooling diurnal shift for the entire region in the summer when temperatures can soar to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Soils in Cariñena vary from orange-brown, iron-laden clays to rounded stones (known as cascajos or cantos) and the fractured schist could lead you to believe you are standing in a vineyard in Priorat. A lack of rainfall after April and the ensuing heat during the summer months means ripening is rarely a challenge; the diurnal swings, meanwhile, ensure bright acidity and a natural balance in Cariñena’s wines.

Old vines dominate the landscape.

Trained en vaso and dry-farmed, Cariñena possesses more old vines than anywhere in Spain. Many 80 years and older, these vines have survived two World Wars and the Spanish Civil War—not to mention the temptation of many producers to plant more recognizable and ultimately more profitable grapes. Although Garnacha is the region’s dominant variety, there are also significant plantings of Cariñena (Carignan), Tempranillo, and even Macabeo.

Cooperatives are the lifeblood of Cariñena, with the largest three (Bodegas Paniza, Bodegas San Valero, and Grandes Vinos) responsible for 80 percent of production. The range of wine styles is impressive: from extraordinary-valued young Garnacha to dramatic expressions from old-vine Garnacha and fascinating Garnacha-based blends.

Bodegas San Valero, established in

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its connection to the Garnacha grape makes Cariñena a noteworthy experience based on its history, current winemaking, and future prospects.

1944, is the oldest of the three major cooperatives. Situated near the town of Cariñena, it works with more than 600 growers spread across 8,600 acres. The Bodegas San Valero Particular range offers excellent value and has helped pave the way in popularizing Cariñena wine in the U.S. Grandes Vinos, the largest of the three co-ops, manages 10,000 acres of vineyards across all of Cariñena’s 14 sub-

districts. A leader in clonal research, the enologists at Grandes Vinos have identified four clones that are now mandatory for replantings in the region. Bodegas Paniza, meanwhile, resides in the most remote and highest part of southwestern Cariñena, where slate-laden soils dominate most of the hillside vineyards. Some of the vines here date as far back as 1906.

Because it represents 400 different growers, one gets the sense that the entire

village of Paniza works for the co-op.

Perhaps the greatest asset of this region is its humility; the growers, winemakers, and export directors demonstrate great pride in Cariñena and its wines. They are driven by a sincere desire to bring the world exceptional wines with a regional distinction: an effort that came to fruition at the Global Garnacha Summit this past April in Napa, California, and will continue in other U.S. markets later this year.

Old vines dominate the landscape at Bodegas San Valero in Cariñena.

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