Do Carinyena
Vinos Del Viento are original, limited production, high altitude wines grown with passion in Spain. The greater North-Central region contains three of Spain’s most famous DO’s – La Rioja, Navarra and Somontano. To the south of theses DO’s, the Ebro River rises near Pico Tres Mares north of Navarro and runs southwest and empties in the Mediterranean Sea. South of the Ebro, three very ancient and important but now up and coming wine regions – Campo de Borja, Calatayud and Carinyena are located. The Iberian mountain chain plays a major role for these regions and the one we are concerned about here – Carinyena, rises up from the floodplains of the Ebro to the mountainous altitudes of 400 to 800 metres. The soils are excellent for vine growing – limestone with a little chalk and slate. The climate is truly continental and low rainfall of 300 to 350ml per year.
It has one truly indigenous variety, Cariñena (Carignan in France) but the most planted varieties are Garnacha and Tempranillo with a smattering of many others, both red and white. The great majority of wines in this region come from cooperatives but this project is headed by Michael Cooper, a Californian winemaker who was enticed here by his Spanish wife. He takes the approach
of hunting out vineyards and all of the DO’s of Aragon are represented in the portfolio; Campo de Borja, Calatayud, Carinyena and Somontano.
The Vinos del Viento wines are for everyday, and priced accordingly. They are not simple wines; they are delicious and if you are looking for no more than that these wines are hard to beat. If you want more, the wines speak of the varietals, and regions with some depth and complexity. Named after the winds that temper the region’s warm climate, these wines are a bridge from the old world to the new.
What makes these wines special is that the grapes are from high altitude, sustainable, dry farmed, old vine and hand harvested vineyards and made naturally with native yeasts and minimal intervention.
2020 Aventura
91 Points – James Suckling 2020
2016 Carinena Seleccion Especial
93 Points – James Suckling 2020