Aragón

DO in the wine-growing region of Aragon in north-eastern Spain, named after the city of the same name. This is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Spain, and was the first to be awarded DO classification in 1960. The vineyard area totals around 17.000 hectares, spread over the following 14 communes: Aguarón, Aladrén, Alfamén, Almonacid de la Sierra, Alpartier, Carineña, Cosuenda, Encinacorba, Longares, Mezalocha, Muel, Paniza, Tosos and Villanueva de Huerva in the Ebro valley right up to the mountains of the Sistema Ibérico at an altitude of 400 to 800 metres. a DO classification in 1960. The soils are dark and limestone-rich with some slate, with some alluvial soils. The summers are dry and hot, with cold winters which are also fairly dry. 75% of the grapes planted are red varieties, with 25% white varieties. The dominant variety is the red Garnacha Tinta (55%), followed by Tempranillo, Mazuela (Carineña), Juan Ibáñez, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. The main white variety is Macabeo (Viura) (20%), followed by Garnacha Blanca, Moscatel Romano (Muscat d´Alexandrie), Parellada and Chardonnay. In the past, the wines were traditionally heavy and alcoholic, and had a long maturation potential (made in the sherry style), but this style is no longer important (although bottles of this type of wine up to 100 years old are still on offer in the market). For the most part, red, rosé and white Jovenes are produced. The production of Cava is also permitted in the wine-growing region. More than 90% of the volume is produced by huge cooperatives such as Bodegas Gran Ducay, Borja, Grandes Vinos y Viñedos and San Valero, in recent years an increasing number of private cellars has been founded. Other well-known producers include Bodegas del Señorío, Covinca, Señorío de Aylés, Solar de Urbezo, Viñedos y Bodegas Esteban Martín, Viñedos y Bodegas Pablo, Virgen del Águila, Virgen de La Sierra and Winner Wines.