Campo Viejo Celebrates International Grenache Day With New Wine Offering

20 Sep 2013 --- Campo Viejo, the second-largest Spanish wine brand in the U.S., announces the debut of the winery's first 100% Garnacha wine, which coincides with International Grenache Day on September 20, 2013. The release of the wine and the corresponding holiday highlight one of the most widely used red grapes in the world, known for its accessibility and versatility.

Campo Viejo is one of the first Rioja brands to launch a Garnacha of this quality from Spain's most renowned winemaking region.

Garnacha plays a large role in Spain's winemaking narrative and is in the majority of traditional aged Rioja blends. Harvested from old vines, the Campo Viejo Garnacha is a modern interpretation of a historic grape, deeply rooted in Spanish winemaking.

"While a traditional variety of Rioja, our new Garnacha is unusual because it has a marked caramel undertone that is more nuanced than the average Rioja wine," says Elena Adell, Chief Winemaker for Campo Viejo. "Our vineyards give us the opportunity to create wines that showcase the typicity of the region, and we've been able to explore the marriage of more complex notes to a traditional fresh finish."

The Garnacha was harvested in the warm, dry conditions of the Campo Viejo Rioja vineyards and then fermented in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 25°C. Following a 12-day maceration, the wine aged in new French oak barrels for four months. The wine is red with purple highlights, featuring a nose of fruits -- strawberry, raspberry, cherry and blackberry -- and floral notes of violet and lilac. Subtle notes of sweet spices and toast enhance the fruit flavors, resulting in a soft, silky, fresh and intense wine.

The wine is packaged in a Burgundy-style bottle, referencing Campo Viejo's Rioja bottle design from the 1960s, as well as the light bodied fruit forward wine style comparable to a Pinot Noir. It joins Campo Viejo's United States portfolio, which includes Tempranillo, Reserva and Gran Reserva wines.