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NAVARRA


NAVARRA

Not quite in the same league as Rioja, yet capable of producing some veryfine wines that are usually exceptional value, the wine-growing region ofNavarra lies south of Pamplona, overlapping part of Rioja Baja. It consistsof 26,500 hectares (65,500 acres), of which 18,000 hectares (44,500 acres)are classified as DO Navarra. Recent marketing successes have reversed acertain decline in the area that had driven some growers to plant asparagusand artichokes rather than vines. This revival has encouraged some ambitiousexperiments with classic foreign grape varieties. Cabernet sauvignon hasbeen an authorized variety on an experimental basis for some years, butseveral others are now being investigated by the Estacion de Viticulturay Enologia de Navarra (EVENSA), Spain's most advanced viticultural and oenologicalresearch station. It is based in Olite, in the Ribera Alta, land has a numberof sub-stations situated throughout all the districts of Navarra. Merlotis likely to become an approved variety and others under consideration includeChardonnay Pinot noir, Gamay Syrah, Chenin blanc, Gewurztraminer, Sangiovese,Barbera, Rhine riesling and even Ruby cabernet, the Californian cross.

Navarra's wine industry

Navarra has 84 bodegas, of which no less than 52 are cooperatives but only16 have any record of exporting their products and, of these, just fouractually vinify and age the wines on their own premises. One of these fouris, however, the central Union Territorial de Cooperativas de Campo, orUTECO for short, which could profitably extend its export activities toall cooperatives.

NAVARRA'S DISTRICTS The region is divided into five districts:

Baja Montana
Vineyards: 4,000 hectares (9,884 acres)
Grape varieties: Garnacha, Tempranillo 50%, Others 50%

Situated in the Montana foothills, Baja Montana is the highest and wettestarea of Navarra and the vintage is considerably later here than in the southof the region. Extra rain means the grape yield is between 50 and 100 percent higher than in any of the other four areas. The district produces someof Navarra's best roses, fresh and fruity in aroma and flavor.

Ribera Alta
Vineyards: 8,100 hectares (20,015 acres)
Grape varieties: Viura 40%, Tempranillo 25%, Garnacha 15% Malvasia 10%

The largest of Navarra's five districts, Ribera Alta borders the Rioja Altaand produces some of the region's finest wines The roses are smooth andaromatic, the reds soft and fruity and the whites are soft, dry and fresh.

Ribera Baja
Vineyards: 8, 000 hectares (19,768 acres) Grape varieties: Garnacha 45%,Viura 30%, Malvasia 10%, Muscat d petits grains 10%, Others 5%

This very hot and dry region includes approximately 20 per cent of Rioja'sBaja district and produces typically deep colored, full and robust red winesand a few sweet Moscatels

Tierra Estella
Vineyards: 4,000 hectares (9,884 acres)

Grape varieties: Tempranillo 55%, Garnacha 15%, Mazuelo, Graciano 20%, Others10%

Climatically similar to Valdizarbe in the north of the area, though gettinggradually drier further south, the Tierra Estella makes pleasant, fruityreds and roses from the Tempranillo, but those from the Garnacha tend tooxidize. Some crisp white wines from the Viura are also produced.

Valdizarbe
Vineyards: 2500 hectares (6,177 acres) Grape varieties: Tempranillo 45 %,Garnacha 4 5 %, Mazuelo, Graciano and others 10%

A district with a slightly drier climate than the Baja Montana. Excellentvalue red and rose wines from the Tempranillo are produced here, althoughsome have a tendency to oxidize.

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