This is how we make our wine at Bodegas Borsao

How we make it

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GARNACHA

Borsao is the benchmark for premium Spanish Garnacha. We have been one of the greatest preservers of this variety. We believe that it is specially suited to the region and that we must continue working on improving the wines it produces.

Garnacha is living a huge revival world-wide thanks to its fruit-driven character, soft tannins and pleasant mouthfeel, that make it perfect to match a great variety of meals.

Garnacha originated in Aragón, where Borja is located and it owes its development throughout Europe to the strength of the Kingdom of Aragón, whose expansion made Garnacha be well established in the Rhône Valley in the 19th century, Italy and Sardinia.

Garnacha is the most planted red variety of the world. Other names for Garnacha; Alicante, Aragonés, Cannonau, Garnaccho Negro, Garnacha Negra, Garnacha Roja, Garnacha Tinta, Grenache, Tintilla, Toledana,  Uva di Spagna.

During the 80s and 90s, it was extensively uprooted in Spain. However, it has been very well preserved in Aragón, where they are pioneers in single varietal garnacha and have contributed to its popularity among consumers.

VITICULTURE

The Hillsides of the Moncayo shelter the vineyards located between 350 and 800 metres of altitude, regulating cold, heat and moderating the effects of the North-west Cierzo, which is responsible for the characteristic wild fruit aromas (Silvestres).

Focus on “Garnacha”: We believe in the use of this indigenous variety, originated in our region. 64% of the total surface of our vineyards is planted with it. All the wines in our range are based in Garnacha, some of them 100% and some others with just a proportion to add fruit and a sense of place.

All 1,500 hectares in our property are planted with an indigenous clon of Garnacha, 900 hectares correspond to “Garnacha de Monte”, i.e. Garnacha over 35 years of age, growing on hillsides, bush-trained and not irrigated.

The Moncayo, with its soft undulations, provides optimum conditions for growing grapes, especially Garnacha that by tradicion respresents 70% of the total production.

New varieties such as Syrah, Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon have adapted to this hard, dry and stony land. The hillsides and undulations of the Moncayo protect the different vineyar, 2,260 hectares, situated at altitudes between 400 and 700 m, regulating the cold, the heat and the typical Cierzo from the North that gives the grape its characteristic wild aroma.

CLIMATE

Generally speaking, the region has a solid continental climate, with a winter Atlantic influence –whose most important characteristic is the North-West “Cierzo” wind- and a summer Mediterranean influence. Low rainfall, at an average of 350 – 450 mm.

Extreme temperatures and very sharp day and seasonal thermal contrasts help to retain acids and fix colour and tannin.

SOILS AND AREA RELIEFS

The relief corresponds to a succession of high plateaus, 350-800 metres-high, with a gentle topography. The western side is rougher due to the proximity of the Moncayo Massif, providing character to the wines. Regarding the soils, the dominant ones are red clayed, chalky and stony, with good drainage and medium levels of organic matter. The area offers very different soils:

  • Tabuenca, red clay mixed with red-slates at an altitude of 750 m.
  • Borja very sandy soils with rolling stones at an altitude of 450 m
  • Pozuelo, limy soils mixed with gravels at an altitude of 350 m.

WINEMAKING

Our winemaking aims at preserving all the characteristics of the grapes coming from our vineyards. We work to preserve the intense fruit characters, body and roundness of Garnacha at all price points and quality levels:

  • Harvest is carried out manually in our key vineyards, the ones from which we will elaborate de Selección Range.
  • Fruit is harvested and transported in 20-kg cases for the Selección wines range.
  • Our winery uses a significant 1 million frigories cooling capacity to preserve the characteristics of the fruit.
  • Oak is used moderately to tame and add complexity to the wines, rather than impose its presence on the wines. We adapt the use of oak to the final style of the wine: different origins, both new and used wood and different sizes help us round up the expression of our wines.