D.O. Campo de Borja

The DO area named after the city of the same name is located in the province of Zaragoza in the north-eastern Spanish region of Aragon. The eponymous noble family Borja became famous in the Middle Ages as the noble family Borgia in Italy. In 1455 Alfonso de Borja (1378-1458) was elected Pope as Calixtus III, later followed by Rodrigo de Borja (1431-1503) as Alexander VI. This family owned many vineyards in Aragon. The monastery of Veruela (outside the area) had a great influence on the old wine culture. The vineyards on clay and limestone soil cover about 7,400 hectares of vines in hilly terrain at an altitude of 350 to 700 metres above sea level. To the north are the DO areas of Rioja and Navarre.

The continental climate is characterised by short, hot summers and extremely cold winters; there is frost damage almost every year. The main red wine varieties are Garnacha Tinta (which occupies 75% of the total area), Tempranillo, Mazuela(Mazuelo), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, and the main white wine varieties are Viura(Macabeo), Moscatel Romano(Muscat d'Alexandrie) and Chardonnay. Mainly rosados (rosé wines) and red wines are produced; the white wines make up only a small percentage of 10%.