DO Navarra D.O. wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

Denominacion de Origen

The Navarra D.O. appellation stretches for more than 100 kilometres from north to south across Navarre, from the foothills near Pamplona down to the banks of the Ebro river in the south. The vineyard area is divided into five production zones with distinct soils and climates: Baja Montaña, Valdizarbe, Tierra Estella, Ribera Alta and Ribera Baja. Three climatic influences meet here, Atlantic, Continental and Mediterranean, giving the region a wide range of terroirs within a relatively compact territory. Soils are predominantly calcareous, deep, and light to medium in texture, sometimes brown or reddish depending on the zone. Authorized red varieties are Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Graciano, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Mazuelo; white varieties include Garnacha Blanca, Viura, Chardonnay, Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Sauvignon Blanc and Malvasía.

Grape varieties: Vins rouges : grenache noir, tempranillo, cabernet-sauvignon. Blancs : viura

The wines of this appellation

Navarra D.O. is particularly well known for its rosé wines, made largely from Garnacha using the traditional bleeding method; they stand out for their freshness and come in both young and barrel-aged styles. Red wines range from young, Garnacha-led cuvées to more structured blends pairing Tempranillo with international varieties, including oak-aged categories such as Roble, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva; their colour moves from deep purple-red toward a tile-red rim with age. White wines, made mainly from Viura and Chardonnay, are built around freshness. All the appellation's wines share a marked acidity, linked to the vineyard's northerly position on the Iberian Peninsula, which gives them lift and, for aged reds, good ageing potential. Rosés pair readily with tapas and fish, whites with shellfish, and aged reds with red meats and slow-cooked dishes.