The Celebrities of Bodega San Valero (BSV)

When you think of celebrities you think of Hollywood legends. But what about the legends among us. We are all legends. Bodega San Valero has created a line of wines to celebrate the Celebrities that we are. These wines highlight the indigenous monovarietal grapes of the region and the international varietals grown there.

Bodega San Valero is located in the Aragon region in Northern Spain. It is part of the Cooperativa VinicolaSan Valero, a winegrowing cooperative with 500 partners and 4,000 hectares of vineyards. The region is situated on a high plateau with significant diurnal temperature shifts. The vineyards are planted at 2,600 feet. With this altitude, combined with the cierzo winds, you get some nice fresh minerality expressed in these wines. Those wines are also important because they cool and protect the vines against disease.

The soil plays an important role in the wines as well. You have a Encinacorba at the 800m altitude which is a combination of slate and quartzite. You have Monte Alcaniz which is mixed, but the effect of the sun and temperature contrasts. Grapes grown in this soil brings strong expressions and quality wines. Monte Ducay soil is very stoney. The thick stones help with soil humidity and the outer stones irradiate light to heat the low lying fruit. Grapes grown in this soil are smaller and more concentrated. They are powerful and expressive.

The Eye Catching Labels

Before we get into the grapes and the wine, I have to talk about the fun, sassy labels. They are so striking and a great conversational piece. The artwork on label wants us to think like a Celebrity, dress like a Celebrity and taste like a Celebrity. If you are wondering, that is a grape covering the face on the label. Behind that grape can be anyone. The labels also have descriptions like “more glamor than ever,” or “a daring look” to help you identify with the character. We are all Celebrities, now let’s drink with them! Best is that all the wines below retail for $14.99. Such a great price point and quality!

Meet the Monovarietals - Granacha and Carinena

Granacha and Carinena are two indigeineous grapes of the Cariňena region. Some of the vines in Cariňena are over 100 years old and 70% of the plantings are dedicated to the indigenous grapes and 25% dedicated to Garnacha.

Celebrities 2016 Old Vine Garnacha The old vines these Garnacha grapes are picked from are between 30 and 40 years old. Aged in used oak for a minimum of 5 months. Dark red fruit, red raspberry, hints of minerality with nice spice on the finish. The spice finishes softly and then explodes in your mouth. This is a nice summer red.

Celebrities 2019 Garnacha This is a young wine and I did experiment and chilled it for a few minutes. Both served with a slight chill and no chill were just as good. This young wine screams fun and excitement! Serious red raspberry hits you in the face as black pepper spice comes out mid palate and softly explodes on the finish. The wine is clean, smooth and refreshing.

Celebrities 2017 Carinena There is a lot going on in this wine. Lots of aromas jumping from the glass. Starting with plum, and hints of violets, blackberry, spicy notes and tobacco. The palate is light with soft red fruit, plume and anise. Nice balance of spice and fruit.

Meet the International Varietals - Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon

There are only 205 hectares of Merlot, 480 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon and 325 hectares of Syrah grown in the region. The familiarity of these varietals is what will have you reaching for them. Just remember, the wine is about the terroir. I found the wines below all very easy drinking and will be great everyday wines.

Celebrities 2018 Merlot Hints of blueberry with red cherry and sweet tannins

Celebrities 2018 Syrah The blueberry hits you then blackberry and boysenberry flavors show themselves along with some mocha. Nice soft mouth feel.

Celebrities 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Strong red fruit, red cherries, and blackberries, hints of crushed herbs with soft tannins. Supernice, soothing and relaxing Cab.

Why You Need to Drink Garnacha from Cariñena

Garnacha also called Grenacha is the oldest and most widely planted red grape variety in the world. We know it as a wine from Spain, but it’s also grown in France, California and Australia. Garnacha is one of the world’s most planted grape and very undervalued. Garnacha is also drought-resistant so in the heat of the summer the roots dig deep through the layers of rock, mineral and earth that is expressed in the wine.

Understanding Garnacha from Cariñena

The birthplace of Garnacha is the Cariñena region of Spain. Cariñena DOC is located halfway between Barcelona and Madrid in the Ebro Valley. The area varies in elevation from 1,300 feet in the lower vineyards up to high altitude vineyards at 2,600 feet. You will find four main soil types in this region:

• Cascajo - brownish red limestone soil, most common in the region
• Royale - reddish brown, iron rich, quartzite and slate based soil, second common in the region
• Tierra Fuerte Arcillosa - brown soil that is a mixture of stone, clay and limestone, found on the terrace floor
• Calar - made up of marl and sandstone

The climate in the area has fluctuations in temperature called a diurnal shift which allows for slow ripening of the grapes, maintaining their acidity and softens the tannins. They have cold winters and hot summers with the Cierzo wind that sweeps in from the north keeping the vines cool and dry and fungal diseases at bay reducing the need for treatments.

There are approximately 1,540 growers that banded together to form 3 high-quality cooperatives. Garnacha grapes are large fruit with thin skins, high sugars, low acidity, soft tannins with red fruit that dominates and develops leathery notes with age. The older vines tend to produce smaller fruit and the juice tends to be a bit darker.

Cariñena Factoid

Not only is Cariñena the birthplace of Garnacha it is the source of more than a fourth of the world’s black truffles.

Why Drink Garnacha from Cariñena

There are many reasons why to drink Garnacha from Cariñena but here are my top 3:

1. Affordability - Many wines from this region are prices from $9.99 - $25
2. Versatile - Pairs with many foods. The wine is approachable young and ages well too.
3. Taste - Low acidity and soft tannins, just great for everyday.

Tasting Experience

Though the educational program #Winestudio I participate in I was able to taste 6 Garnacha wines from Cariñena. Young vines, old vines and representation from all the growing areas in Cariñena.

2017 El Circo Acrobata SRP $9.99 - This particular brand names each wine for a performer. Acrobata is 100% Garnacha with aromas of raspberry, strawberry and some baking spices. The palate is medium bodied with flavors of black raspberry, ripe red berry, clove and white pepper. I paired this with 3 year old Manchego and the acid in the wine made the cheese a creamy.

2016 Monasterio de las Vinas Old Vine Garnacha SRP $17.99 - Chilean born winemaker Marcelo Morales selects small parcels of 40+ year old vines from the many diverse terriors in Grand Vinos vineyards for this wine. Escaping from the glass are aromas of blackberry and earth notes leading to a balanced palate with dark berry, cocoa and black pepper. This was paired with 6 month old Manchego cheese and it softened out the acidity in the wine.

2017 Particular Garnacha SRP $8.99 - 100% Garnacha with lots of red berry aromas which lead to a red fruit (cherry, raspberry) palate and a hint of white pepper. This is a young Garnacha that did not see any oak aging hence the fruit forwardness of the wine.

2015 Particular Garnacha Old Vines SRP $15 - Aged in oak for 14 months, there is a little bit of maturity in this wine. Lots of red berry notes and a hit of licorice as the wine opens.

2012 Vinas Viejas de Paniza SRP $20 - Grapes for this wine came from old vines up to 100 years old in slate soil 2,700 feet above sea level. The wine was aged in 6 months in French and American oak barrels. What a nice mature Garnacha. Aromas of cedar, vanillan, toffee, red fruit lead to a complex palate of red and black fruit. As the wine opens red raspberry becomes dominate with hints of chocolate. Paired very well with sausage and peppers.

2014 Artigazo Edicion Limitada SRP $25 - This is a blend of 40% Garnacha 30% Syrah and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from 40 year old vines. Complex aromas of red fruit, black berry, oak and eucalyptus lead to a complex palate of mixed red and black fruit, soft and enjoyable. This also paired very well with the sausage and peppers.

In conclusion, Garnacha from Cariñena is a wine that can be your go to wine for any event or meal. Enjoy it young or aged, either way you can’t go wrong.

Cracking The Grandes Vinos Y Vinedos Garnacha Code

Founded in 1997, Grandes Vinos y Vinedos works with vineyards in 14 of the growing areas in D.O.P Carinena. They source grapes from 10,000 acres of vineyards that range in altitude from 1,000 to 2,800 feet. One third of their production is Garnacha.

I got to taste two of their selections.  Both Garnacha, one Rose and one Old Vines.

2014 Besdo de Vino is a Garnacha Rose. Antonio the Bull kissed this wine and fell in love.Beso de Vino means "Kiss of Wine" It is kissed with a beautiful raspberry color.  In fact raspberry all around.  Very strong notes of fresh raspberries on the nose and on the palate.  The taste of raspberry lingers in your olfactory for a while on the finish.  As the wine begins to open notes of fresh cherry become apparent. This wine, think summer fun. SRP $10













2014 Corona D Aragon Old Vine Garnach is sourced from the oldest vines in Villanueva de Huerva at very high altitude. The wine begins with layers of aromas from the glass of cherry, sour cherry and red currants.  The palate was bright with bing and cherries.  As the wine began to open it was bursting with black raspberry and became jammy. The fruit was really showing it's colors. SRP $10

Two great wines at affordable prices!

7 Facts Everyone Should Know About Carinena Garancha

If you like Garnacha then you will like reading my posts during the next 4 weeks as I participate in April's #winestudio wine education focusing the D.O.P Carinena region of Spain. Let's get started with a brief overview of the region

• Established in 50BC
• Located in the Ebro Valley, just west of Priorat 
• D.O.P Carinena has more old vine Garnacha than any other region in Spain
• 3 Co-ops make the majority of D.O.P Carinena Garnacha from 50-100 year old vines.
• 1863 while Phylloxera began destroying 90% of European vineyards, Carinena was unaffected.
• D.O.P Carinena ancient stone soils and high altitude makes it ideal for growing Granacha
• Wines made from the lower altitude plantings will be fruitier, while wines made from higher altitude will be more complex.

The next few weeks I will be introducing you to the Co-ops that produce the wine from this region.  You will be glad to know that the wines are very affordable.  Prices range between $9.99 and $27