2021 El Persa Carinena Spain Garnacha

It was that year, when Franklin Roosevelt was President of the United States and Manuel Azaña Díaz was Prime Minister of Spain, that Cariñena was granted its own Protected Denomination of Origin (Denominación de Origen Protegida) or “DOP” — similar to the appellations of French. This means that wines are made according to rules that protect authenticity and quality.

And it’s quality well worth protecting because of the region’s varied terroir. Cariñena is celebrated for its old vines planted at varying altitudes, its soils with ancient stones, and a regional wind known as “el cierzo” that helps bring unique characteristics to the wines of the area.

One of the region’s most important indigenous grapes is Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache), and El Persa makes an amazing rendition. The 2021 vintage will dazzle your palate as it shows off its impressive pedigree.