EU Fab 6 spotlights Garnacha for International Garnacha Day

The EU Fab 6 marked International Garnacha Day by highlighting the Spanish grape’s regional diversity, from Aragón to Terra Alta, and its role in PDO wines across Europe. The campaign is using tastings and education in the UK and Switzerland to raise awareness of protected European wine origins.

Why it matters: - Garnacha is both a heritage grape and a modern export story, with styles that vary widely by soil, altitude and climate. - The EU Fab 6 is using International Garnacha Day to promote Europe’s PDO system and the regional identities behind Garnacha wines. - The campaign’s work in the United Kingdom and Switzerland is aimed at both consumers and wine professionals.

What happened: - The EU Fab 6 marked International Garnacha Day with a focus on Garnacha, a grape with deep roots in north-eastern Spain. - The campaign highlighted four Protected Designations of Origin tied to Garnacha: Cariñena PDO, Campo de Borja PDO, Calatayud PDO and Terra Alta PDO. - The campaign said each region shows a different expression of the same grape through local soils, altitudes, climates and winemaking traditions.

The details: - Garnacha originated in Aragón and later became closely associated with several wine-growing areas in north-eastern Spain. - Calatayud PDO is one of Spain’s driest wine-growing areas, with high-altitude vineyards and large day-night temperature swings. - Calatayud reds are generally described as rich, full-bodied and marked by black-fruit and mineral notes. - Campo de Borja PDO, known as “The Empire of Garnacha,” combines cold winters, hot dry summers, strong winds and extensive high-altitude vineyards. - Campo de Borja said lower sites tend to produce more powerful and aromatic wines, while higher sites can produce more subtle and elegant styles. - Cariñena PDO is presented as one of Spain’s most historic wine regions and a key appellation for Garnacha. - Cariñena’s high-altitude vineyards, continental climate and stony soils are used to shape expressive wines. - Cariñena’s slogan, “El Vino que Nace de las Piedras” (“The Wine Born from Stones”), refers to its rocky soils. - Terra Alta PDO combines a Mediterranean climate, abundant sunshine and strong winds. - Terra Alta is especially associated with white Garnacha and accounts for up to 30% of global white Garnacha production. - Terra Alta white wines can show citrus and peach notes, while its red Garnacha can show raspberry aromas and mineral nuances. - Garnacha is late-ripening and relatively drought-resistant. - Garnacha grows across slate, clay, pebbles, granite and limestone soils. - Old vines remain an important feature of north-eastern Spain and can produce more concentrated wines because of lower yields and deep roots. - Carolina de Funes, manager of Asociación Garnacha Origen, said International Garnacha Day celebrates both the grape and the diversity of the territories behind it. - De Funes said Garnacha has a centuries-old history but still feels contemporary because of its versatility and range of wines.

Between the lines: - The messaging positions Garnacha as a bridge between tradition and current consumer interest in distinctive, place-driven wines. - The emphasis on multiple PDOs underscores how European appellations can turn one grape into several marketable identities. - The focus on white Garnacha in Terra Alta suggests the variety’s story is broader than the better-known red styles.

What's next: - The EU Fab 6 said it will continue introducing consumers and professionals to Garnacha wines and the European PDO system in the UK and Switzerland. - The campaign will keep using tastings, education and promotional events to support awareness of PDO and PGI labels. - The initiative is co-financed by the European Union and backed by six consortia from Italy, France and Spain.

The bottom line: - Garnacha’s appeal now rests on both history and range, and the EU Fab 6 is betting that regional storytelling will deepen demand for protected European wines. - More information is available through the campaign’s social channels, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.