Navarre, Spain, Spain
Published: 02 Nov 04
Navarre, the northernmost appellation in Spain, has a rich, varied history and a long, proud winemaking tradition: archaeologists have found evidence of winemaking in 2000-year-old Roman ruins excavated at Funes in the south of Navarre.Interestingly, both Navarre and Rioja display the influence of the Cistercian
monks - the same religious order that established monasteries and vineyards in
Burgundy. These monks provided shelter and succour to weary pilgrims plodding
the much-travelled route to Santiago de Compostela. Between the mid 13th and 16th
centuries Navarre also built a reputation for wine of a high standard, much of
which was exported to the papacy at Avignon.
Until the '70s Navarre was mainly a mass producer of fairly simple red wines made from Grenache (Garnacha) as well as rosado or rosé wines. Some pundits still believe Navarrese rosés are among the best in the world.
The winemakers of Navarre may not have caught on to modern wine-making practices and plantings as quickly as their Riojan and Catalan counterparts did, but things are changing with modern varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and even Chardonnay being planted at an increasing rate. Producers such as Julian Chivite, Irache and Senorio de Sarria are also channelling a great deal of effort into making concentrated, complex, critically acclaimed wines from old Grenache bush vines.
DIVERSE CONDITIONS
The Navarre region is located south of the western Pyrenees that form the border between Spain and France, and immediately northeast of Spain's famous Rioja region.
Navarre's 15 000 hectares of vineyards have been termed "an entire wine universe in miniature" because of the diversity of aspects, climate, soils, grape varieties and styles of wine-making. The terrain ranges from cool mountainous areas in the northeast to hot, flat plains in the south. As a rule the north is also much wetter than the south - although the river Ebro and its canals reduces some of the disparity.
Naturally these varying conditions affect plantings and ripening periods. In northern Navarre, for example, certain farmers still have unripe grapes such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon hanging on the vine two months after the September harvest.
Wind is a common factor throughout the region and massive wind farms with their slowly whirling blades dot hills everywhere.
In his novel published in the '20s, The Sun Also Rises, writer Ernest Hemingway contributed greatly to the local tourist industry with his evocative descriptions of Navarrese wines - pink and red - and his vivid account of the running of the bulls in Pamplona.
The wines from Navarre are noticeably wooded - but unlike those from Rioja, they display a preference for French oak rather than spicy American barrels.
NAVARRE'S FIVE REGIONS
Baja Montana is situated in the Montana foothills in the eastern part of Navarre. It's a wet area so Tempranillo, which ripens earlier than Grenache, dominates here. The area's best known for its light and fruity rosado wines.
Ribera Alta borders Rioja Alta on the river Ebro. Viura constitutes more than two-thirds of its plantings, which means the region is known best for its fruity white wines. Its wines are of a very good quality, among the best Navarre has to offer.
Ribera Baja, also on the river Ebro, is the most southerly, low-lying, hot area of Navarre and one of the finest, producing rich, ripe, robust wines (mainly Grenache) with good colour. About 10% of plantings are devoted to white Muscat.
Terra Estella is the region around the town of Estella, in the north of the region. Tempranillo is the main grape grown and is used to make rosé and easy-drinking fruity reds.
Valdizarbe, the smallest of the five districts, is also the driest and lies immediately south of the city of Pamplona. It's known for its good value reds and rosé wines.
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Until the '70s Navarre was mainly a mass producer of fairly simple red wines made from Grenache (Garnacha) as well as rosado or rosé wines. Some pundits still believe Navarrese rosés are among the best in the world.
The winemakers of Navarre may not have caught on to modern wine-making practices and plantings as quickly as their Riojan and Catalan counterparts did, but things are changing with modern varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and even Chardonnay being planted at an increasing rate. Producers such as Julian Chivite, Irache and Senorio de Sarria are also channelling a great deal of effort into making concentrated, complex, critically acclaimed wines from old Grenache bush vines.
DIVERSE CONDITIONS
The Navarre region is located south of the western Pyrenees that form the border between Spain and France, and immediately northeast of Spain's famous Rioja region.
Navarre's 15 000 hectares of vineyards have been termed "an entire wine universe in miniature" because of the diversity of aspects, climate, soils, grape varieties and styles of wine-making. The terrain ranges from cool mountainous areas in the northeast to hot, flat plains in the south. As a rule the north is also much wetter than the south - although the river Ebro and its canals reduces some of the disparity.
Naturally these varying conditions affect plantings and ripening periods. In northern Navarre, for example, certain farmers still have unripe grapes such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon hanging on the vine two months after the September harvest.
Wind is a common factor throughout the region and massive wind farms with their slowly whirling blades dot hills everywhere.
In his novel published in the '20s, The Sun Also Rises, writer Ernest Hemingway contributed greatly to the local tourist industry with his evocative descriptions of Navarrese wines - pink and red - and his vivid account of the running of the bulls in Pamplona.
The wines from Navarre are noticeably wooded - but unlike those from Rioja, they display a preference for French oak rather than spicy American barrels.
NAVARRE'S FIVE REGIONS
Baja Montana is situated in the Montana foothills in the eastern part of Navarre. It's a wet area so Tempranillo, which ripens earlier than Grenache, dominates here. The area's best known for its light and fruity rosado wines.
Ribera Alta borders Rioja Alta on the river Ebro. Viura constitutes more than two-thirds of its plantings, which means the region is known best for its fruity white wines. Its wines are of a very good quality, among the best Navarre has to offer.
Ribera Baja, also on the river Ebro, is the most southerly, low-lying, hot area of Navarre and one of the finest, producing rich, ripe, robust wines (mainly Grenache) with good colour. About 10% of plantings are devoted to white Muscat.
Terra Estella is the region around the town of Estella, in the north of the region. Tempranillo is the main grape grown and is used to make rosé and easy-drinking fruity reds.
Valdizarbe, the smallest of the five districts, is also the driest and lies immediately south of the city of Pamplona. It's known for its good value reds and rosé wines.
FACT FILE
Grapes: Grenache, Tempranillo, Viura with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Soils: predominantly limestone, with a topping of silty alluvial deposits adjacent
to the river Ebro. Some sandstone and clay.
Climate: westerly winds predominate, while the effect of northerly winds is
ameliorated by the Pyrenees. Winters can be harsh with a lot of mist and fog.
Spring frosts can also be a problem for vines.
