Page 13 - Tesco Wine Club Magazine - March

ARAGÓN
I’m a great fan of Aragón as I think it produces some of the best Garnacha based wines in the whole of Spain. On this trip I fly into Zaragoza airport, right in the heart of the region. As my plane touches down I’m already getting excited about visiting the wineries and tasting the latest vintages.
Day 1: Cariñena
After a short drive in the Spanish sunshine,
I arrive in Aragón’s celebrated wine district of Cariñena. With plains of gnarled old bush vines reaching out either side of the car, I know there are going to be some fantastic wines to try.
Today I’m going to the winery of Marques De Carano wines. Set in the middle of immaculately maintained vineyards, the Grandes Vinos y Vinedos is built in a traditional Moorish style around a beautiful stone courtyard. I first came here about six or seven
years ago and was instantly impressed by the quality of wines made by the wine-maker, Marcelo Morales Calderon.
I’m always given a warm welcome by the team here. Last time I was here they put on a ‘light lunch’ for me. I now realise that a ‘light lunch’ in Spain can easily last for hours.so after the 15th different dish hit our table I had to admit defeat and politely suggest we should really go and start doing some work!
This time I make straight for the blending room to taste the latest vintages. The reds are as rich and delicious as ever and the quality of these wines remains phenomenal.
If you normally drink reds from Rioja, it’s well worth giving the Reservas or Gran Reservas a try.
After a long afternoon’s tasting,
I get dropped off at my hotel. It’s in
the centre of Zaragoza; a wonderful
city that’s a hotchpotch of modern architecture and historical
monuments. I could easily spend
the evening walking from tapas bar
to tapas bar. However, I can’t ➽ stay late because it’s an early
start tomorrow.
Amazing value...
Storks Tower Tempranillo Shiraz, 2007, 13.5%
Dark cherry red with notes of spice and black fruits in the aromas and ripe bramble fruits in the rich, smooth flavours.
£6.21 75cl bottle price
Case of 6: £35.39
Quote ref: 060976274
One of Aragón’s many stone villages
Page 14
Rich and delicious...
Marques De Carano Reserva, 2004, 12.5% A deeply flavoured, elegant wine that combines blackberry and black cherry fruit with gentle notes of toasted oak and vanilla.
£7.99 75cl bottle price
Case of 6: £45.54
Quote ref: 064412688
BUY 6 IN-STORE, GET 5% OFF
BUY 6 IN-STORE, GET 5% OFF
Tesco Wine Club Magazine March 2010 13
On the menu
Migas
(which literally translates as ‘crumbs’) is a dish of fried breadcrumbs and tasty leftovers, such as pieces of ham, cheese, fish or vegetables. It is
a fashionable first course in many Spanish restaurants and the ideal accompaniment to
a rich red from Cariñena.
Zaragoza old and new