D.O. Calatayud

Wine tourism in D.O. Calatayud

The Calatayud Protected Designation of Origin was established in 1989 with the aim of protecting and promoting the wines produced in the area. Currently, nearly a thousand winegrowers and 15 wineries that have obtained certification are associated with it. The P.D.O. Calatayud is located within the Comarca of the Community of Calatayud, belonging to the province of Zaragoza and bordering the provinces of Soria, Guadalajara and Teruel.

A unique area for unique wines

The P.D.O. Calatayud is located in the westernmost part of the province of Zaragoza, 87 kilometres from Zaragoza and just 1 hour from Madrid by high-speed train (AVE).

In this vast territory, vine cultivation coexists at altitude with plantations of almond, cherry and olive trees, while fruit trees such as apple, pear and peach are grown in the lowlands, next to the rivers.

The soil conditions, the altitude at which our vineyards are located and the climate prevailing in the area, together with the garnacha tinta variety, make our Designation of Origin a privileged place for the cultivation of the vine and the production of wines with a marked personality resulting from a classic terroir.

The land and the climate

It is an area of complicated orography, located in the foothills of the Moncayo and characterised by a complex hydrographic network formed by various tributaries of the Ebro river, such as the Jalón, Jiloca and other minor ones. The vineyards descend along the slopes of the mountain ranges, at altitudes ranging between 550 and 1,040 metres.

Areas

The terrain is undulating, with most of the vineyard settled on stony, loose soils that are very poor in nutrients and have a high proportion of limestone. They have good permeability and are healthy.

Microclimates

The climate of the P.D.O. Calatayud is characterised by its continentality, with cold winters and hot summers.

The average annual temperature is 13.1ºC, with large differences between night and day during the ripening period, from 5 to 7 months of frost. Temperatures and rainfall vary from the bottom of the trough, with mild temperatures and low rainfall, to lower temperatures and slightly higher rainfall as we ascend, with an average rainfall of 300 to 550 mm.

Modern production technologies have produced a new generation of young reds, rosés and whites, and in response to market demands, red wines with a light passage through barrel have taken the lead, giving them tertiary aromas typical of wood while retaining the fruit of a young wine.

White wines

The white wines are generally made from the viura or macabeo grape. Of a pale straw-yellow colour with greenish tones. They present primary aromas of medium-high intensity. On the palate they are fresh and aromatic, slightly acidic with good balance. Minimum alcohol content 10.5º.

Rosé wines

The rosés are made mainly with garnacha tinta, bled off after a few hours, resulting in wines with an attractive strawberry-to-raspberry pink colour, bright, very aromatic with floral and fruity tones reminiscent of strawberry and raspberry. Minimum alcohol content 11º.

Red wines

The red wines are the most significant wines of the Calatayud Protected Designation of Origin. The young reds stand out, fruity and very mineral, of colours ranging from cherry red, dark garnet or morello cherry, bright with violet edges. They are tasty, fleshy and well-structured with a long aftertaste. Minimum alcohol content 12.5º.

Calatayud Superior

The wines marketed under the “Calatayud Superior” label stand out.

For their production, grapes of the garnacha tinta variety belonging to vineyards over 50 years old and with very low yields, which in no case exceed 3,500 kg/ha, are used. In their composition, a minimum of 85% is wine of the garnacha tinta variety and the remaining 15% is wine of other authorised varieties. They are wines of a morello cherry red colour, with aromas of forest fruits and red berries, and their aromatic intensity hints at mineral and balsamic tones, wrapped in a touch of clean wood, with a good attack on the palate, tasty, with an intense concentration of fruit and toasted tones, leaving a very pleasant aftertaste.

Experiences to enjoy in D.O. Calatayud

Discover this wine-growing region located in the westernmost part of the province of Zaragoza.