DO Navarra — 5 Subzones
| Subzone | % | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Ribera Alta | 37% | Largest; Ega/Arga/Aragón meet; most Chardonnay |
| Ribera Baja | 29% | Warmest, driest; Ebro River; Moncayo mtns |
| Baja Montaña | 14% | Pyrenean foothills; best rosé |
| Tierra Estella | 13% | Westernmost; highest elevations |
| Valdizarbe | 7% | Smallest; most humid; most diverse |
Rosé — Sangrado Method
Max 40 L/100 kg juice extracted by gravity. Remaining must → red wine. Results in deeply-colored, full-bodied rosés. Garnacha Tinta = primary grape.
Traditional Zones
| Montaña | Mountains in the north |
| Zona Media | Middle region |
| Ribera | Ebro River in south |
Key Grapes
Black (80% of plantings)
Garnacha Tinta 28%; documented since 1746; signature grape
Tempranillo 29%; most widely planted
Merlot Cabernet Sauv Syrah
Pinot Noir Introduced 14th c under French control
Graciano Mazuelo
White (20% of plantings)
Chardonnay Leading white; French 19th c intro
Viura/Macabeo Crisp, fresh
Moscatel de Grano Menudo Ribera Alta/Baja
Garnacha Blanca Malvasía Oneca
Climate & Geography
| Climate | Continental; maritime in north |
| Cierzo Wind | Affects Ribera; extreme temps |
| Bardenas Reales | Semi-arid desert (SE) |
| Rivers | Aragón, Arga, Ega (Ebro tributaries) |
The 4 VPs
| VP | Year | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Pago de Arínzano | 2007 | First VP; 11th c history; rediscovered 1988 |
| Prado de Irache | 2009 | Wine fountain for pilgrims; 12th c |
| Pago de Otazu | 2009 | Pamplona Basin; harvest 2 wks later |
| Bolandín | 2022 | Newest; Ribera Baja; Cierzo winds |
The 2 VTs
| VT | Year | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Riberas | 2009 | Named for Ega, Arga, Aragón rivers; entire community |
| Ribera del Queiles | 2003 | S. Navarra + W. Aragón; reds only |
History Highlights
Pre-Roman Vascones (Basques) inhabited
13th c French control; Burgundian grapes intro
Phylloxera 50,000 ha → 1,500 ha; 80+ varieties lost
Recovery Garnacha dominant; rosé fame
Subzone Details
| Subzone | Location | Climate | Soils | Key Grapes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribera Alta | Center; 3 rivers meet | Continental; diurnal shifts | Loamy-clay, marl, limestone | Tempranillo, Graciano, Chardonnay, Moscatel |
| Ribera Baja | Southernmost; borders Rioja Oriental | Warmest, driest | Loamy, limestone, marl | Tempranillo 40%, Garnacha 30%, Viura |
| Baja Montaña | NE Pyrenean foothills | Cooler | Marl, loam, limestone, gravel | Tempranillo 60%, Garnacha 25% |
| Tierra Estella | Westernmost; borders País Vasco | Highest elevations | Clay, marl, gravel, alluvium | Tempranillo 50%, Cab Sauv, Chardonnay |
| Valdizarbe | S of Pamplona; Camino de Santiago | Most humid; maritime influence | Marl, loam, alluvium | Most diverse: all major varieties |
VP Details
Pago de Arínzano: Tierra Estella; 490m; Ega River; Tempranillo, Cab Sauv, Chardonnay
Prado de Irache: Near Estella; 12th c royal supplier; 16 ha VP; red only
Pago de Otazu: 110 ha; Arga River; Atlantic + Mediterranean influence
Bolandín: Ablitas; 395m; extreme continental; Cierzo; 130 ha vineyard
Prado de Irache: Near Estella; 12th c royal supplier; 16 ha VP; red only
Pago de Otazu: 110 ha; Arga River; Atlantic + Mediterranean influence
Bolandín: Ablitas; 395m; extreme continental; Cierzo; 130 ha vineyard
Top Exam Points — Memorize These!
DO Navarra (1933)Only DO in autonomous community; 5 subzones; 4 VPs; 2 VTs
Garnacha since 1746Signature grape for dark rosé; 28% of plantings
Sangrado = 40 L/100 kgMax juice by gravity for rosé; deeply colored result
17% of Spain's RoséSecond only to DOCa Rioja (29%)
Phylloxera Devastation50,000 ha → 1,500 ha; 80+ varieties destroyed
VP Prado de IracheHistoric wine fountain for Camino pilgrims
Ribera Alta = 37%Largest; where 3 rivers meet (Ega, Arga, Aragón)
Baja MontañaBest known for intensely colored rosé wines