Navarra
Navarra
One of Spain's more prolific regions, Navarra is best-known for its dry, fruity rose wines, made from Garnacha (Grenache), and found in most tapas bars along the Basque coast. Recent arrivals of French varieties have seen an upsurge in dry, red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, while the region is also attracting favourable attention for its red-fruited Tempranillo wines which are often darker and richer than those found in neighbouring Rioja. Sweet white wines are also found in Navarra, generally made from Moscatel and particularly delicious. Located in the north of Spain, Navarra has a long history of wine production and its climate is affected by the Atlantic Ocean to the north-west and Pyrenees to the north-east which serve to bring more rainfall and cooler temperatures than the protected region of Rioja below it. Late harvesting is common, to ensure the grapes are perfectly ripe.
