Cariñena, Aragon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cariñena
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Cariñena town hall
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 Cariñena, Aragon
Location in Aragon
Cariñena, Aragon
Location in Spain
Cariñena, Aragon
Location in Europe
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Aragon |
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| Province | Zaragoza | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 82.5 km2 (31.9 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 591 m (1,939 ft) | |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 3,276 | |
| • Density | 39.709/km2 (102.85/sq mi) | |
Cariñena is a small town located in the province of Zaragoza, which is part of the autonomous community of Aragon in Spain. It's the main town of an area called Campo de Cariñena. This town is famous for its delicious wine and the special Cariñena grape, which is even named after the town! A long time ago, when the Romans were around (about 2,300 years ago), this place was called Carae. People back then even enjoyed wine mixed with honey!
History of Cariñena
The name Cariñena comes from the time of the Roman Empire. A Roman official named Pliny the Elder called this settlement Carae. The ending -iniana was common for Roman country estates.
So, Cariniana meant a small village or estate located in Carae. It was likely named after its owner, Carinius. Over time, large farms became common, and their owners often gave their names to places like this. Later, during the Middle Ages, the name changed slightly to become Cariñena, as we know it today.
Many years later, in the 20th century, King Alfonso XIII gave Cariñena the special title of "city." He did this because of the excellent quality of its wines.
Wine Production Today
Even today, making wine is the most important economic activity in Cariñena. For a long time, Cariñena's wines were known for being strong and having a certain taste. However, in the last ten years, the wineries in the area have greatly improved their methods.
They are now using better techniques and producing higher quality wines. This has made Cariñena a very promising area for wine production in Spain. Some of the main grapes grown here are Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Cariñena (which are red grapes). Macabeo/Viura is a popular white grape. Many wineries are also starting to grow other grapes like Merlot, Syrah, and Chardonnay.
Images for kids
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Cariñena town hall
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Cariñena Coat of Arms
See also
In Spanish: Cariñena para niños
