Five Fast Facts about the Calatayud DO

Unless you are a true wine geek (and I certainly consider myself one), you may have never heard of the Calatayud Denominación de Origen (DO)—fair enough. However, I have been seeing more of these wines on the shelf at my local liquor hangout, so I thought that it was a good time to introduce…Five Fast Facts about Spain’s Calatayud DO!

#1: It’s in Aragón—a region that is not really well-known for fine wine. Tucked just beneath the Pyrenees and inland of Catalonia, the area has a great history (in Medieval times, it was its own kingdom), amazing topography (it is home to the highest mountain in the Pyrenees and crisscrossed by the Ebro River), and incredible cities (visit Zaragoza and tour the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar). While the area does produce wine, none of the appellations are that well-known. Trust me on this one (or read fast fact #2, below).

#2: Calatayud is one of just four DOs located within Aragón. The Somontano DO—home to some delicious, Garnacha-based rosés and well as some nice varietal reds—is located in the north of the area. Two smaller areas, Campo de Borja and Cariñena, are—along with Calatayud—located and south of the Ebro River Valley. All of these appellations are approved for a long list of wine types and styles—from solid reds to light rosé and white…even sparkling and dessert wines.

#3: The Calatayud DO specializes in big red wines…mainly Garnacha and Garnacha-based blends. This hot, dry, hilly region is a challenging place for agriculture…but Garnacha thrives in areas such as these. Garnacha accounts for just over 75% of the area’s nearly 9,000 acres of vines. Other red grapes—such as Tempranillo and Mazuelo—also thrive in the region and are often part of the Calatayud Tinto blend. (Note: Garnacha is the Spanish name for the grape otherwise known as Grenache.)

Photo of the bell tower at the Colegiata de Santa Maria la Mayor by Diego Delso, via Wikimedia Commons

#4: Like the other DOs of Aragón, the Calatayud DO is approved for the production of a long list of wine styles. Tinto (red), rosado (rosé) and blanco (white) may be produced in a range of sweetness levels ranging from bone-dry to super sweet; the terms used for these range from seco (dry) to semiseco, semidulce, and dulce (sweet). Fortified wines—known as vino de licor—may be produced using Garnacha, Macabeo or Moscatel (Muscat). Sparkling wines—vino espumoso—and Spain’s unique, slightly fizzy vino de aguja are also produced in Calatayud.

#5: The Calatayud DO is situated somewhat between the far-more-famous appellations of Priorat (about 150 miles to the east) and Rioja (about 150 miles to the east). The appellation is named after the tiny city of Calatayud, known for its 15^th century Mudéjar bell tower on the grounds of the Colegiata de Santa Maria la Mayor (Collegiate Church of Santa Maria)—the tallest in the region.

References/for more information:

• Technical File-Calatayud DO
• https://www.calatayudwine.com/

The Bubbly Professor is “Miss Jane” Nickles of San Marcos, Texas… missjane@prodigy.net