Authorised varieties

In Navarre there is a wide range of white and red varieties used to make all types of wines, adapted to suit consumer tastes: rosés, young whites and oak-aged whites, young reds and oak-aged reds, and sweet wines.

More than 70% of vineyards are dedicated to native varieties (Garnacha, Tempranillo ...), whilst the remaining 30% comprises the most famous international varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay ...). 94% of the grapes produced in Navarre are red and only 6% white.

Baja Montaña: Area marked by a marked orography, with abundant forest vegetation low, where reigns the vineyard in the few cultivable areas.

Main cultivated varieties

Practically only reds, with much Garnacha (over 60%) and Tempranillo (25%)

Climatically it is situated between the sub-humid zone in the North and the dry upper South, varying mean annual precipitation between the 760 and the 470 mm.

Given the differences in existing dimensions, favorable for the vineyard vegetative periods ranging from Lerga 205 days and 234 of San Martín de Unx.

It is the most influential Pyrenean.

Ribera Alta: Situated in the middle belt of Navarre, in the transitional area towards the southern region, with an important wine growing centre around Olite.

With regard to the climate, this is a transitional zone located between the upper dry zone and the semi-arid one, in which the climatic transitions are very gradual, as its relief is somewhat flat. Far from the influences of the ocean and Pyrenees, this is a hotter zone than the more northern ones. It has a mean annual precipitation of between 507 mm and 349 mm and the annual water deficit for the vineyard is around 200 - 300 mm. The most favourable vegetation periods for the vineyards vary between 234 days in Olite and 259 in Mélida.

Main varieties grown:

The Tempranillo is predominant, with a wide range of other red wine varieties too, notably the Graciano.

As for whites, this zone is noted for having the highest percentage of Chardonnay in the region and a certain amount of Moscatel.

Zone with a gentle relief to the north and around the river Ega, and which gradually flattens out towards the south, where the grapevines grow alongside cereal plantations.

Ribera Baja:Set in the south of Navarre, in the Ebro valley between Aragón and La Rioja.

This is quite a homogeneous zone as far as climatic conditions are concerned, and is right in the semi-arid zone.

Considering the thermal regime and the mean annual precipitations of between 361 and 384 mm, the vineyard water deficit is considered to be more than 300 mm per annum. The most favourable vegetation periods for the vineyard, and the longest in the D.O. Navarre, range from 227 days in Fitero to 255 in Tudela, and all the grape growing bioclimatic indexes achieve their highest values in this zone.

Main varieties grown

Amongst the red wine varieties, the Tempranillo is the dominant grape (40%) followed by the Garnacha (30%).

As far as the whites are concerned, the zone boasts the largest concentration of Viura and Moscatel in the region.

Landscape:Great plain, very flat with little vegetation, dominated by the imposing presence of the Sierra del Moncayo.

There is much market gardening in the most fertile areas.

Tierra Estella: Set on the western strip of Navarre, along the Way of St James, bordering the Basque Country and La Rioja.

With regard to the climate, Tierra Estella is located between the sub-humid zone in the north and the exceedingly dry zone to the south, with some mean annual precipitation variations of between 454 to 700 mm. The Urbasa and Andia Sierras to the north filter the influence of the Atlantic ocean, with the vineyards preferably located in the sunniest spots. In consonance with the differences in altitude and orientation, the vineyard favourable vegetation periods range between 206 days in Estella to 224 in Alloz.

Main varieties grown:

For red wine varieties, of particular note is the Tempranillo (almost 50% of the total), followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and, for the whites, the Chardonnay is the most prominent variety.

Landscape:

Crossed by the river Ega and bounded by the Sierra of Urbasa, the pronounced relief in the north gradually smooths out to the south where the vineyards are intermingled with olive and cereal plantations.

Valdizarbe :In central Navarre, to the south of the Pamplona basin, constituting the nerve centre of the Way of St James through Navarre, where the route from Baja Navarre merges with that from Aragon.

With regard to the climate, this zone forms the northern boundary for vineyards in Navarre and is the most humid one.

Here, like Tierra Estella, the northern Sierras limit the influence of the Atlantic and the vineyards tend to occupy the sunniest spots.

Located between the sub-humid zone in the north and the exceedingly dry zone to the south, the zone has some mean annual precipitation variations of between 544 to 807 mm. The most favourable vegetation periods for the vineyards range between 203 days in Otazu to 227 days in Puente la Reina.

Main varieties grown:

Amongst the reds, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet and Merlot all have similar surface areas, whilst there is also some Chardonnay and Malvasía.

Landscape:

Bordered on the west by the spurs of the Sierra de Andía and, to the north, by the Sierra del Perdón, most of the Valdizarbe zone runs alongside the river Arga, forming a zone of gentle hills and valleys.