Every Sunday, with an educational edge, I explore specific appellations or sub-regions, taking you along for the ride. If it’s old news, then brush up on some fading facts; if it’s uncharted territory, why not learn something new? If you know something I haven’t mentioned, then feel free to comment and share your experiences. Check out past Sunday posts here.

The Spanish Denominación de Origen of Campo de Borja gets a short shout out this Sunday. Mainly because I just discovered it existed, but it also seems to be a big source of very drinkable wines at very swallowable prices.

Photo from CampodeBorja.com

In the northeastern and wicked sounding province of Zaragoza, a couple hundred kilometers southeast of Rioja, lay 7,500 hectares or 19,000 acres of vines. Not insignificant, but it’s a little skewed by the fact that the Spanish love to spread things out and give each vine plenty of room. With all that acreage, there are only 17 wineries in the Campo de Borja DO. A staggering 70% of the vineyards are planted with the Garnacha grape which explains the self-proclaimed title “Empire of Garnacha.” Nearly half of these Garnacha vines are somewhere between 30 to 50 years old, bush/gobelet trained, and gnarled (Zinfandel killed this word for me, but nothing else really works). The other reds include Tempranillo, Mazuela (aka Cariñena/Carignan), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. The scarce 5% of white grapes are almost entirely Macabeo (aka Viura, and one of the three main Cava grapes), with traces of Moscatel and Chardonnay (because where shouldn’t it be?). For an awesome list and synopsis of Spain’s most popular grapes, check out WinesFromSpain.com.

Museum photo from CampodeBorja.com

Possibly the coolest wine museum that has ever existed, the Wine Museum of Campo de Borja, is housed within an old Cistercian Monestery. There’s even a mascot called Garnachica. Garnachica! They have plenty of history to talk about, as vines have been planted here since the Romans days and all that.

Click through the image for another great Spanish DO promo video.

This part of Spain is hot and quite dry (350mm-450mm of annual rain), with the daily fluctuation in temperatures commonly seen in continental climates. There are Mediterranean and Atlantic influences, including a dry cold winter wind.

Bodega Borsao is no small producer. Giant may be one word I’d use. They control a healthy share of the entire Campo de Borja production and fill 5.5 million bottles with wine a year. That’s 5.5 million bottles. A far cry from the independent farmer who offers a thousand cases, but they are serving up tasty wine at painless prices.

Bodega Borsao ’07 Blanco Selección Joven (Macabeo)

Spiced apple and pear with a touch of chalky minerality. This wine doesn’t see any oak, yet it has a deceiving creaminess to the palate. While not necessarily contemplation wine, it’s great for dinner tables and other everyday wine situations. I’ve also served it to a few people seeking a Chardonnay-esque flavour profile with a new twist and it’s been loved.

The Borsao Macabeo runs within the $16-$20 range in BC wine shops. It’s currently on the revolving wine list at Salt Tasting Room in Vancouver.

As always, please feel free to contribute any information, experience or tasting notes that you feel are relevant and check back next Sunday. Read past Sunday posts here.