Winemaking & maturation
3 months in oak70% American oak30% French oak
Style
DryFruit-forwardFull-bodied
Grapes
SyrahGarnacha
Cariñena offers Garnacha-led reds, rosés and whites, alongside wines from the grape that shares its name.
Grenache.
A fruit-led route into the denomination, ranging from youthful red-fruit freshness to richer, oak-aged expressions.
Macabeo.
A fresh white alternative to the reds, with gentle fruit and a clean finish; lees or wood treatment varies by producer.
Cariñena can name either this protected origin or the grape also known as Carignan. A Cariñena DO wine therefore need not be made from that grape. Garnacha has a major role in the denomination, while Macabeo and Garnacha Blanca provide white-wine choices. The producer’s grape declaration and ageing information are more useful than the place name alone when choosing between youthful and more structured bottles.
Cariñena DO. 1 wine in British Columbia.