Century After Century, Cariñena Has Led A Charmed Existence.
A prized winemaking region since the Roman era, Cariñena is the heart of Aragon in northeast Spain, bordered by France to the north, and Catalunya to the east. In 1415, King Ferdinand I of Aragon proclaimed his preference for wines from Cariñena over all others. This is the magic of D.O.P. Cariñena.
Cariñena History Timeline
50 BC
Romans establish the villa of Carae, later called Cariñena.
1415
By royal proclamation, King Ferdinand I of Aragon declares a preference for Cariñena wines “above all others.”
1585
King Philip II of Spain is welcomed to Cariñena with “free-flowing fountains of wine.”
1696
Quality controls initiated in Cariñena. Growers adopt The Statute of the Vine to monitor yield and designated vineyard areas.
1863
Phylloxera begins in Europe. Within 20 years, nearly 90% of European vineyards are decimated. Largely unaffected, Cariñena emerges as a destination for vintners in refuge.
1909
King Alfonso XIII of Spain awards Cariñena a city charter for their growers’ role in helping European vineyards recover from the phylloxera blight.
1932
Cariñena is the second wine region in Spain named an official “Denomination of Origin.”
1944
Bodegas San Valero is established.
1953
Bodegas Paniza is established.
1997
Grandes Vinos y Viñedos is established.
2012
Cariñena launches the “Vinos de Piedras” (or “Wines from Stone”) awareness campaign. Export demand reaches an all-time high, with 15% growth to 48 countries.
2015
Garnacha made in the style of Cariñena is named “The Next Great Grape.”
2016
Wine Enthusiast Names Cariñena a Region to Watch
2018
The First Global Garnacha Summit Takes Place at The CIA at COPIA in Napa, CA, resulting in the launch of the Global Garnacha Summit Road Show