Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/992999
78 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } JUNE/JULY 2018 Mountains to the south and the majes- tic, 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 Garna - cha 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 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.