Navarre

Wine from Navarra

Northeast of the well-known Rioja region, we find the Navarra wine region, which extends to the foothills of the Pyrenees. It's also known as Rioja's little brother. The climate in this region is highly varied. The south is almost desert-like, while the central DO region enjoys a continental climate, and the further you go towards the mountains, the cooler and wetter it becomes. This results in a wide variety of wines. Traditionally, Navarra primarily produces rosé wines from the Garnacha grape. These days, the focus is more on red wines, with Tempranillo as the main grape.

Ancient wine growing in Navarra

Wine has been grown in Navarre for centuries. The beginnings date back to the Middle Ages. Many pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela enjoyed Navarre wines along the way. But even in the 19th century, Navarre couldn't escape the phylloxera outbreak. While they initially exported a lot of wine, primarily to affected areas in France, by 1892, they were on the verge of being affected themselves. Although the region has since recovered, it is no longer as large as it once was. In the 20th century, the focus was entirely on rosé wines, in which the Garnache grape played a significant role. In recent years, more and more winemakers are turning to red wine. Powerful and full-bodied red wines with sultry tannins.

Navarra and its diverse grape varieties

About 60 percent of the production consists of red wines. These are primarily grown with Garnacha and Tempranillo. But other grape varieties like Graciano, Mazuelo, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are also increasingly being used. Therefore, you're seeing more and more blended wines on the market. Take, for example, the Cuatro Tierras from the Piedemonte winery. This winery sublimely combines four grape varieties in this red wine. From the opening of the bottle to the velvety finish, it's one big celebration. Only 4 percent of the production is reserved for white wines, usually produced with the Viura grape. But the Chardonnay grape is also becoming increasingly popular in the region.

Typical Garnacha Rosé from Navarra

And despite the rise in red wines, the region hasn't lost sight of its traditional Garnache Rosados. These wines are incredibly popular in France, and even the Spanish themselves can't get enough. In other words, they're definitely worth trying! With the Brana Vieja Garnacha Rosé from the Principe de Viana winery, you'll feel like you're immersed in the rugged Spanish landscape bathed in sunshine. Refreshing, invigorating, and incredibly fruity.