The flavor of cantaloupe in wine of Navarre
Discover the of Navarre wines revealing the of cantaloupe flavor during the olphactive analysis (nose) and during the gustative analysis (mouth).
Navarra, in northern Spain, is one of the country's 17 first-level administrative regions (comunidades autónomas) and a fairly prolific, if lesser-known, wine region. Traditionally associated with the production of Bright, Fruity rosé, Navarra is beginning to attract attention for its high-quality red wines, mainly from the Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, after years of being overshadowed by its southern neighbor, Rioja. The first evidence of wine-making in the region dates back to Roman times, but it is almost certain that Vines were growing here Long before that. It was recently discovered that vines of the prehistoric species Vitis sylvestris - the predecessor of the beloved Vitis vinifera - were still growing in Navarre.
After the Romans, vine cultivation continued under the Moors and then expanded considerably under Christian rule. The demand for wine was boosted by Catholics making the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage to the shrine (now a cathedral) of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where, according to tradition, the remains of the apostle St James are buried. The 14th century was a period of prosperity for Navarre and the number of vineyards multiplied to the extent that restrictions had to be imposed to ensure that enough land was given over to cereals to feed the local population. Demand received a further boost at the end of the 19th century when France was hit by Phylloxera.
Severe drought and heatwaves have provided challenges for wine producers across Europe in 2022, from maintaining vine health to concerns about – and the impact of – wildfires. Early harvests have been a feature of the vintage and reports emerged this week of records being broken at some white wine-producing estates in Bordeaux. Spain’s Caserío de Dueñas estate in DO Rueda said it began a record early harvest on 16 August this year. While drought and heat have put pressure on yields in some regio ...
I first contributed to Decanter back in November 1988; the hundreds of columns and articles I’ve written since constitute a journey of discovery. I squirm, though, if I’m described as a ‘wine expert’. Whatever wine knowledge we acquire quickly cools, congeals and crusts over, like custard or gravy, as the years pass. The wine world expands at a clip. Every vintage rewrites history. It’s the chance to share discoveries – not just about wines, but about people, places and the act of drinking itsel ...
Last week, Basque National Party (PNV) spokesperson Aitor Esteban announced the withdrawal of a bill that, if passed, would have granted Basque winemakers of the Rioja Alavesa region greater autonomy. A proposal to establish a breakout Viñedos de Álava DO for Rioja’s Basque enclave was originally launched in 2016 by the Association of Rioja Alavesa Producers (ABRA), which represents over 100 local wineries. While a number of Basque producers continue to battle for the creation of an entirely sep ...