Aragón

DO named after the city of the same name (which in turn is derived from the name of the old aristocraitc Borja family) in the Aragon region in north-east Spain. The Borja family became infamous as well as famous in Italy as the Borgia family. In 1455 Alfonso de Borja (1378-1458) was elected pope (as Calixtus III.), he was followed later by Rodrigo de Borja (1431-1503) as pope Alexander VI. Among other things, this family owned numerous wine estates in Aragon. The Veruela abbey, which lies outside the DO, had an important influence on the old wine culture. The vineyard area today totals around 7.200 hectares on limestone and clay soils, they are located in hilly terrain at an altitude of 350 to 700 metres above sea level. In the north, the region borders on the Rioja and Navarra DO’s. The region has a continental climate with short hot summers and extremely cold winters, with frost damage encountered almost every year. The following red varieties are permitted: Garnacha (which accounts for 75% of the total area), Tempranillo, Mazuela and Cabernet Sauvignon; the white varieties are Viura (Macabeo) and Moscatel. Mainly red wines and rosados are produced, as well as sweet wines and rancios. The white wines account for only 10% of the total.