The Aragonese capital launches the first International Garnacha Festival, an event that gathers more than 40 bars and restaurants in a joint effort to celebrate its flagship grape with menus, tapas, and wines that reinforce its leadership on the global wine and gastronomy map.
From May 30 to June 8, Zaragoza—already recognized as the World Capital of Garnacha—celebrates GastroGarnacha, the first International Festival dedicated to this indigenous grape variety that defines the winemaking identity of Aragon. The initiative, driven by Horeca Restaurants Zaragoza and the Association of Cafés and Bars, mobilizes over 40 establishments with a paired culinary offer that puts Garnacha at the center of the experience.
During ten days, two main offers will be available: tapas with a glass of Garnacha for 5.50 euros and set-priced paired menus at 25, 40, and 55 euros, all made with products certified as Alimentos de Aragón. The campaign not only highlights the versatility of the wine but also promotes local products and the talent of local chefs.
GastroGarnacha strengthens Zaragoza’s role as the epicenter of wine tourism and quality gastronomy, featuring wines from the three designated origin areas of the Zaragoza region: Campo de Borja, Cariñena, and Calatayud. It exemplifies how collaboration between the hospitality sector, producers, and administration can transform a tradition into a tool for cultural and touristic promotion.
According to José María Lasheras, president of Horeca Restaurants Zaragoza, “GastroGarnacha is a way to showcase how our Garnacha shines in innovative proposals that combine technique, roots, and creativity.” His counterpart in the Association of Cafés and Bars, José María Marteles, also sees it as an opportunity to “claim the bar as a cultural and meeting space, offering a close and authentic experience.”
With the support of the Zaragoza City Council and Zaragoza Tourism, GastroGarnacha is not just a wine festival: it is a declaration of leadership around a variety that defines the character of a land and today positions Zaragoza at the center of the international gastronomic map.
