High Elevation Garnacha

While the most widely planted red wine varietal in Spain is Tempranillo - the star for the renowned wines of La Rioja and Ribera del Duero, it’s Garnacha that seems to be getting a whole lot of love lately.  Garnacha is a grape that originated in Aragón, Spain centuries ago (with some debate).  One of the most widely planted grapes in the world, Garnacha is versatile, and until recently, mostly primarily used in blends. Nascent viticultural efforts have yielded astonishing results in terms of quality in such a short window of time.

A wave of ambitious young winemakers has rediscovered the low-yield, bush-vine trained Garnacha planted throughout Priorat, Aragón, and in the Sierra de Gredos mountains that offer high-altitude (1000m+) parcels bringing a quality of freshness to the wines.

In addition to the high elevation, soil composition also plays a key role in the flavor profiles of the wines.  Slate and granite, two distinct types of geological rock formations, each contribute specific characteristics to the soils. In addition, vine growth, grape ripening, and ultimately the wine’s flavor profile is influenced greatly by the type of soil.

Check out our extensive collection of high elevation Garnachas.