One of Spain’s oldest DOs, Cariñena is finally stepping out of the shadows. Perched in Aragón, between the Ebro Valley and the Iberian Mountains, this high-altitude region combines baking summers with cool nights — ideal conditions for expressive, fresh-fruited reds. Garnacha is the star here, often from old bush vines on rocky soils, but there’s a growing focus on terroir and finesse rather than sheer power. Once known more for bulk than brilliance, Cariñena is now home to a new wave of producers making seriously smart wines at honest prices.