
Calatayud is a wine region in Spain that is part of the Spanish Denominacion de Origen, or DO. The region is located about 90 kilometers from Zaragoza, and extends over 46 municipalities. The region has more than 5,600 hectares, and borders the Soria DO in the west, and the Cariñena Do in the east. Calatayud is located in the Reiver Ebro Valley and is overlapped by the Mesa, Piedra, Manubles, Jalon, Jiloca, and Ribota Rivers to name a few. The vineyards in the region can be found on the south facing slopes of the Sierra de la Virgen range between 500 and 800 meters above sea level. Calatayud became the Aragon’s second largest wine-producing region in Spain after Cariñena.
Calatayud has a continental climate with cold winters, and hot and dry summers. The annual temperature rarely exceeds 55.4° F. The region does experience frost about six months of the year.
The majority of the vines are planted in loose and stony soil that is low in nutrients with high lime content. The permeability of the soil is good which means that the roots are able to get the nutrients and water required to produce wine making grapes. Red grapes are predominant in the region and account for 83% of the vines planted.