Navarra grabs limelight

A group of Navarra winemakers has joined forces in a bid to improve the quality and image of the region’s wines.

Técnicos Vino Navarra (TEVINA) has 48 members so far, including Concha Vecino of Nekeas, Alicia Eyalar of Tandem, Roser Girbau of Marco Real, Kepa Sagastizabal of Inurrieta, Adriana Ochoa of Ochoa and Raul Ripa of Quaderna Via.

The group is divided into units dedicated to viticulture, legislation, image building for the region, research and press conferences and events.

Spokeswoman Adriana Ochoa said, ‘We believe that Navarra’s wines are good and that we will be able to make great progress. There has never been so much communication between the producers.’

In Navarra a number of changes have been introduced to help the region to move forward, following the appointment of Pilar García-Granero as president of Navarra’s consejo regulador in May 2007.

New legislation incorporates DO Pago wines and Vino de la Tierra wines – Bodegas Julián Chivite is the first producer to achieve DO Pago status for its Arínzano estate. Pago is a new top-level denomination for single-vineyard wines.

Syrah, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc have gained official acceptance and a category for red wines with shorter oak ageing has been created.

Written by Patricia Langton