The ideal place to visit this weekend if you are a wine lover

Once a year, the emblematic

, located in the center of the Plaza de España in Cariñena, becomes the main protagonist of this town, about 45 km south of Zaragoza, and the object of desire of the residents of the 14 municipalities that make up the Cariñena Protected Designation of Origin.

For one day, and on the occasion of

the pipes of this circular monument built at the end of the 19th century sprout wine, instead of water, after the first traditional treading of the grapes by two of its population.

This act of "exaltation of wine" is the most important of the festival, declared of Tourist Interest in Aragon, which this year celebrates its 56th edition, after two years of hiatus due to the pandemic, and which will take place

.

The event has become a great attraction for lovers of wine tourism, who come to the small town of about 3,000 inhabitants to taste the so-called

(so called because of its origin in a wild environment) and in an important showcase of the more than thirty wineries of the DO of Cariñena.

Fountain of La Mora.

The festivities will start on Saturday 24, at 6:00 p.m., with the institutional act of exaltation of the wine by the actor Antonio Resines, who will be in charge of

the fountain.

As is tradition, the first must of the year after the symbolic treading is offered to the Holy Christ of Santiago, once blessed by the parish priest.

Afterwards, a complete program of activities will follow with

performances, an

and a

of the wines of the Denomination of Origin, the largest in the Community, which this year also celebrates its 90th anniversary. .

The latter will be in the so-called

(Plaza del Campo del Toro) on Saturday, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and on Sunday, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., where there will be about 20 stalls representing renowned wineries and the area, including Bodegas San Valero, Hermanos Torcal, Tierra de Cubas, Ignacio Marín or Gabarda.

More information and program here.

Heritage

Between tasting and tasting, it is worth taking a walk through the historic center of Cariñena, whose most emblematic building is the

, a Baroque temple built in 1734 on the old Collegiate Church of Santa María which, in turn, , rose where the mosque was.

Also noteworthy are

, a 16th-century Renaissance-style Aragonese palace, and the

, both in Plaza de España, in the center of which is the Fuente de la Mora.

Wine lovers cannot fail to visit

(Camino de la Platera, 7), where everything related to the Cariñena DO is displayed.

The premises of this Casa de la Viña y el Vino are located in a rehabilitated 1918 cellar.

Admission: 2 euros.

More information here.

Where to eat

Vegetables from the garden and roast lamb can be tasted at

(San José, 3; tel.: 976 62 05 56), a restaurant serving traditional Aragonese recipes with creative touches, accompanied by local wines.

Specializing in all kinds of grilled meat,

(Pedro Portolés Zaera, 11D; tel.: 876 09 98 17).

Where to sleep

Hotel Cariñena

(Carretera Zaragoza-Valencia, 449, N-330, Cariñena; tel.: 976 620 250).

On the outskirts of the town, this spacious and traditional hotel has all the comforts.

From 64 euros.

Reservations here.

Hostal Meson de Paco

(C. Mayor, 126; Tel.: 675 634 563).

In the heart of Cariñena, this rural accommodation and restaurant is ideal for experiencing the town's festivities on the front line.

From 55 euros.

Reservations here.

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