GRAPE VARIETAL
Garnacha (100%): old, low-yielding bush vines that deliver generous fruit, spice, and a naturally supple texture.
APPELLATION
Campo de Borja DO, Aragón (Spain): a high-plateau Garnacha stronghold along the Ebro River, long celebrated for old-vine value.
TERROIR
Stony, alluvial and clay-limestone soils at 400–700 meters, swept by the cooling Cierzo wind; the combination of altitude, diurnal swing, and meager soils keeps fruit fresh and tannins fine.
VINIFICATION
Picked for ripeness without excess, gently crushed, and fermented cool in stainless steel to preserve brightness; brief maceration for color and aroma, then rested in concrete or neutral vessels (minimal or no new oak).
TASTING NOTES
Juicy red and black berries, ripe cherry, and a touch of blood orange; hints of white pepper, dried herbs, and a subtle mineral edge; medium body with lively acidity and smooth, easygoing tannins.
FOOD PAIRING
Weeknight-friendly and grill-happy: charred sausages, lamb chops, burgers, tacos al pastor, roasted mushrooms and peppers, paella, and semi-aged cheeses like Manchego.
I can’t think of any other Garnacha from Spain that has garnered so much attention and so many accolades from AWM customers and staff. When I first introduced the 2015 vintage, it sold out almost immediately, and every vintage since has been equally fantastic!
D.O. Calatayud — Located mid-way between Madrid and Barcelona
Calatayud is one of the largest D.O.s in the Aragón region of Spain. A combination of the region’s high altitude and arid climate provides ideal conditions for producing some of Spain’s finest Garnacha. The broad diurnal shift produces significantly cooler evening temperatures, allowing the grapes to reach full ripeness levels while still maintaining good lift and freshness. The red iron-rich soils are studded with layers of loose rock, sand, and gravel, and this soil combination does an outstanding job of preserving the region’s precious moisture.
The dry, dusty expanse of the OGV vineyards — Bodegas Virgen de la Sierra
Calatayud, Aragón, Spain
Bodegas Cooperativa Virgen de la Sierra has been making wine in the Calatayud for more than 100 years. Six hundred families participate in the Co-op, and over the years, the vineyard holdings have grown to more than 700 hectares. The land in this Co-op has been passed down in local families for generations, and there is an amazing sense of pride and quality that drives all aspects of production.
Co-op wines are often ignored by the wine press and snubbed by collectors in favor of estate-grown and bottled wines. I’ve learned over the years that while most estate wines are indeed quality-driven, so are carefully chosen Cooperative wines. In some cases, the Co-op is the local economy’s driving force, and dozens, if not hundreds, of families, depend on it for income. In most cases, well-made Co-op wine is a bargain compared to similar-quality estate wines.
Bodega Cooperativa Virgen De La Sierra is a perfect example of a Co-op that does everything right. They balance an ideal blend of old-school tradition in the vineyards and the best of modern technology in the winery. There’s no use of chemicals or pesticides on the vines, and there’s a bare minimum of intervention at the winery. Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and growers are paid based on their grapes’ quality, not quantity.
Bodega Cooperativa Virgen De La Sierra — AWM 2018 Buying Trip to Spain
This well-run Cooperative focuses on the wine, not on a flashy winery building
The Co-op at Virgen De La Sierra operates with a level of integrity far beyond the average Co-op; however, they have a secret weapon that genuinely defines their wine: the grapes are harvested from 70 to 100-year-old vines. These knarled old vines produce a minuscule yield that is absolutely magnificent in density, nuance, and extraction.
The Coop’s secret weapon for OGV — knarled 70-100 year old vines!
When you get this one into your glass, you’ll see why everyone is in love with this wine. On the nose, you’re greeted with aromas of toasty blueberry and red berry compote. The real action starts on the palate — dark red berry, blueberry, baking spice, and vanilla mingle with hints of coffee and mocha on the finish. There’s a lot going on with this wine, and as it gets a little air, it really starts to come alive. There’s a ton of fruit; however, it’s not a lollipop — the ample tannin allows one to enjoy this with a steak, yet it’s smooth and supple enough to sip on the porch.