Viñas Señorio de Sarría, © Félix Lorrio/ICEX

WHeRe to eAt:
Enjoy wine and tapas in
Pamplona’s old town at:
La Mandarra de la Ramos,
Baserri and Otano in Calle
San Nicolás;
Bodegón de Sarría and
Fitero in Calle Estafeta;
Letyana in Avenida Bayona
(Barrio San Juan).

Señorio de Arinzano-Bodegas Julián Chivite © ICEX

POSTMARK:NAVARRA

Dine in style: Alambra and Enekorri restaurants in Pamplona and Restaurante Tubal in Tafalla.

WHeRe to stAY:

As Patricia Langton discovers, Navarra’s colorful wines This was clearly demonstrated during my recent stay

Hotel La Perla

Plaza del Castillo, 1
and gastronomy make a pilgrimage to the region well in the region when I visited I nurrieta, a producer
www.granhotellaperla.com
worthwhile. at Falces. Here one of the partners in the winery,
The only five-star hotel in

Juan Mari Antoñana, who is also an excellent cook, Pamplona and well situated

It is probably no coincidence that the most popular route invited me to try the bodega’s Sur wine, a blend of
in the city. Ernest Hemingway
and other famous people
of El Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James) passes Garnacha, Syrah and Merlot with his take on cord-
have stayed here.
through the heart of Navarra’s vineyards. Established in ero al chilindrón (lamb cooked with dried peppers, Hotel Maisonnave
medieval times, the route includes a section stretching some garlic and olive oil). The grapes in this blend make ^{Calle Nueva, 20}
www.hotelmaisonnave.es
80km from Pamplona to Viana on the border with Rioja. a harmonious blend and the wine was a great match
Family run and located in the
Today, over 40,000 people make their way through this with lamb. (Other top red wine producers of note are
old town.
part of the region where ancient monasteries and medieval Chivite, Nekeas and Ochoa). Hotel Restaurante Europa,
landmarks rub shoulders with both long-established and
Calle Espoza y Mina, 11
www.hreuropa.com
more modern bodegas. The great diversity of Navarra’s Navarra’s rosé wines are enjoying a renaissance after
Also family-run and offers a
wine and food is enjoyed by those passing through, just having been eclipsed, somewhat unfairly, by the new very good restaurant.
as it has for many centuries. generation of their red siblings in recent years. Most
For more information visit:
bodegas, including Ochoa and Señorío de Sarría, offer
www.VinoNavarra.com

Although there are some common themes running through a rosé. They are dry in style and generally offer good www.turismo.navarra.es the region’s wines, Navarra thrives on diversity. Historic color and structure due to the saignée or free-run method. www.noblesdelreyno.com

(for smaller hotels of
events and geographical location have influenced its local This is a more complex way to make rosé wines but
character) and
culture and its wines too: the region borders the Basque results in higher quality wines that are particularly food
www.restaurantesdelreyno.

Country, Rioja, Aragón and the Pyrenees. At one time friendly – an ideal match for cured ham and salads and com (for good restaurants

Navarra was a medieval kingdom in its own right and it shellfish.
in the region).

still enjoys certain independence in its affairs – this goes

About the author:

back to the rights and freedom granted by King Ferdinand Navarra’s white wines fall into two camps: dry styles are
Patricia Langton is an
in 1512 in return for the people’s allegiance. made from Chardonnay and occasionally Garnacha
independent journalist spe-
cializing in Spanish wines
Blanca and Moscatel de grano menudo (Muscat à pet-
who lives in London. She
Navarra was formerly associated with rosé wines made its grains) while sweet wines are made from Moscatel
contributes to a number of
from the Garnacha grape, but there has been a major which is encouraged to over-ripen in the hotter south publications including Spain
shift towards modern reds, which now account for over of the region and picked in late autumn. Navarra’s
Gourmetour, online website
winesfromspainuk.com, Off
half the wines produced. Red wines are usually based sweet wines, pale gold in color with hints of sultana
Licence News and Square
on Tempranillo with French varieties such as Cabernet and lychee and fresh acidity, can be excellent. Sweet Meal. Patricia is also the co-
Sauvignon and Merlot providing supporting acts. Moscatel wines are often served at the start of a meal
author of 500 White Wines

with foie gras in local restaurants. Bodegas Julián However, some excellent Garnacha reds and occasionally Chivite and Bodegas Camilo Castilla should both be wines made from Graciano, a traditional variety which credited for excellent sweet wines. Finally, a brief word is challenging to grow but capable of producing deeply about another speciality – pacharán, a liqueur usually colored inky wines of great elegance and character, can be enjoyed at the end of the meal. Pacharán is an anise-found. Indeed, traditional grape varieties are increasingly based drink and it owes its pinky-red colour to the valued by producers alongside international grapes. Red addition of sloe berries known as pacharanes. As the wines can feature the best of both, with no set formula. locals say, salud!

(available internationally).

A vine in Navarra. © ICEX.