Wines of Navarra Blog

Posted July 31st, 2012

Summer in the (Spanish) City

One unrelenting thing about summer is the desire to have fun. The warm sun, the longer days, thoughts of holidays — it all creates a vibe, a vibe called summer.  And the Appellation of Origin Navarre will be present at numerous summer activities organized by the city of Pamplona during the month of August.

There will be special wine and food pairings, up until midnight at the Citadel — which will be turned into a virtual Gastrobar!  Of course, nothing goes on in Pamplona without a bit of music, so there will be blues, soul, jazz and more. Come sip, eat and listen — all in the warm night air of Pamplona.

The price?  Six -6 – euros. Unbelievable.  Available for tasting will be white wines, rosé, reds and sweet wines accompanied by the region’s special cheeses:  Idiazábal and Roncal.

The wineries: Macaya, Sada, Valcarlos, Malon Echaide, Inurrieta,Prince of Viana, Orvalaiz, Chivite, Sarria, Vega del Castillo, Piedmont, Ochoa,Nekeas, Beramendi, Irache Urabain, Monjardin, Marco Real, Otazu and Araiz.

To complete the week, the four Saturdays of the month of August will be held “The Wall of Candles.” This is a musical performance tour guided by candlelight. Attendees will enjoy tapas and Navarra wine. Also just 6 euros. The wineries involved in this activity are: Irache, Alzania,Vega del Castillo, Nekeas, Orvalaiz, Urabain, Marco Real, Sada, Inurrieta, Sarria,Macaya, Otazu, Ochoa, Prince of Viana and Aroa.

If we’ve said it once, we’ve thought it a million times: Navarra is one fun wine city.

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Posted July 24th, 2012

Just Perfect

 

Navarra wines are great summer wines: there are crisp, fruity chardonnays; full bodied and delicious rosado; richly tantalizing sweet wines; easy-drinking reds for picnics and bbqs– and you may want to pull out a fine Navarra red for your next  grilled steak.  Now, however, Navarra’s white and rosado wines are even easier to keep cool this summer.  Navarra has THE bag.  Fill it with ice and water and it will keep your wines a very delectable temperature.

Carry one easily onto the field, a barbecue, the beach, or to the pool. Ah, life is good with Navarra.

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Posted July 5th, 2012

Your Own Style of Navarra Wine

Navarra has a new advertising campaign that will promote different types of Navarra wines, but keep the slogan “Your own style of wine”.  Navarra encourages consumers to discover the Navarra wine that fits them best. Navarra white wines, rosé and red wines offer versatility for everyone to find the one that best suits their tastes and preferences.
 
The new campaign features three young people who consume Navarra wines, each in a different location and with a distinct style and personality. Scenarios evoke three different situations where young people can enjoy their “own style of wine” in bars, outdoor terraces or in their own home.

The foodie.

The shopper.

The musician.

Three young people, three personalities, three passions…

but always Navarra wine!

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Posted June 28th, 2012

#BePink

Navarra is devoting a summer evening to celebrate their delicious rosé wines. How are they going to celebrate? With a beach party, of course!  

From a beach side terrace in San Sebastian, guests will enjoy the beautiful sunset while sipping on a glass of Navarra rosé.

The date to celebrate is June 29- and you’re invited to come out, drink Navarra rosado, and enjoy cocktails, games, raffles, and surprises!

The clincher is that if you want to attend, you have to work for it! Take a photo of one of the good city views, and upload it to the event page on Facebook with the hashtag #BePinkDonostia. The first 150 will be guaranteed a spot at the party!

Hurry up, grab your cameras, and get ready to #BePink.

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Posted June 26th, 2012

La Noche del Vino

The 5th edition of  La Noche del Vino was a smashing success!

The goal of the event is to bring Navarra wine, food, fun, and young people together.

Mission Accomplished!

Check out this video to see some highlights of the great night.

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Posted June 22nd, 2012

Navarra Quality Wine Competition 2012

The Navarra Association of Sommeliers has awarded the prizes for the Navarra 2012 Quality Wine Competition. In total, ten DO Navarra wines and a pacharán (a native Spanish liqueur) have been recognized. This year’s winners in the various categories were:

• Young White: Orchidea 2011 Bodega Inurrieta

• White with Oak: Castillo Monjardín barrel fermented 2009 from Bodegas Castillo de Monjardin.

• Rose: Bodegas Aroa Larrosa 2011

The sommelier panel with the proud winners

• Young red: Homenaje Tinto 2011 from Bodegas Marco Real

• Red with Oak: 2009 Bodegas Gazaga Lezaun

• Aged Red: 2009 Inurrieta Cuatrocietos from Bodega Inurrieta

• Red Reserve: Albret La Viña de Mi Madre 2007 de Finca Albret

• High Altitude REd: Pago  de Cirsus Selección Familia 2007 de Bodegas Pago de Cirsus (Iñaki Núñez)

• Sweet Young White: Ochoa Moscatel 2011

• Aged Sweet White: Pago de Cirsus Moscatel, vendimia  tardía 2007 from Bodegas Pago de Cirsus (Iñaki Núñez)

• Pacharán: Azanza

In total there were nearly a hundred samples blind tasted by a jury panel made up of members of the Navarra Association of Sommeliers.

Congratulations to all the winners!

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Posted June 19th, 2012

Navarra Day

In just a few days, on 24 June, Navarra will hold a massive food and wine fair. The days  is called Día de la Navarra Media, which means “Navarra Day”. Lucky guests will be able to sample a variety of fresh local Navarra products, including:

  • Traditional pastries
  • Meats and sausages
  • Extra Virgin olive oil
  • Virgin olive oil
  • Wines from Bodega Inurrieta
  • Artisan pastries and cookies
  • Fruits, vegetables and canned from the garden
  • Production of aromatic and culinary plants
  • Traditional confectionery products
  • Wines from Bodegas Marco Real
  • Bread, pastries and cookies
  • Mushrooms
  • Homemade pastas
  • Wines from Olite

Throughout the day, there will be special wine and olive oil tastings, guided tours through the city and plaza, featured musical entertainment and children’s activities.

Once again, a day you do not want to miss! Come enjoy Navarra’s finest offerings and fun!

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Posted June 15th, 2012

Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with Chorizo and Manchego

Navarra locals love eating stuffed Piquillo Peppers, and you’ll love cooking and enjoying them in your own kitchen. Here’s a fantastic recipe for you to try.

Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with Chorizo and Manchego

Ingredients:

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 small onion, finely diced
• Kosher salt
• Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 garlic clove, smashed and finely chopped
• 1/4 pound chorizo, casing removed and finely chopped
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated aged Manchego
• 1/2 bunch Italian parsley, leaves finely chopped
• 1 (10-ounce) jar piquillo peppers, drained and patted dry
• 2 cups washed baby arugula
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 2 scallions, white and green, cut very thin on the bias
• Sherry vinegar
• Big fat finishing extra-virgin olive oil (high quality)

Directions:

Coat a saute pan, over medium heat, with olive oil. Add the onion, season with salt, to taste, and toss in the crushed red pepper. Saute the onions until they are soft and very aromatic, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 2 to 3 more minutes. Stir in the chorizo and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the bread crumbs. Let the mixture cool. When cool, add the Manchego and parsley. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Stuff the peppers with the filling and arrange them on a sheet pan. If there is extra stuffing, press a little on top of each of the peppers. Put the peppers in the oven to warm through, about 8 minutes.

While the peppers are in the oven, combine the arugula, almonds and scallions in a large bowl. Dress the salad with sherry vinegar, big fat finishing oil and salt, to taste. Check for seasoning and divide the salad between 4 serving plates.

Remove the peppers from the oven and arrange 2 peppers on each salad. Serve while the peppers are warm.

Recipe courtesy of Anne Burrell via Food Network.

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Posted June 11th, 2012

Highly Honored Wines of Navarra

The Wines of Navarra are highly decorated, as they walked away with 29 award winners in the prestigious International Wine Challenge.

The silver medal wines:
Inurrieta Foothills Winery 2009 Inurrieta
Inurrieta Heights Winery 2007 Inurrieta
Crianza 2009 Bodegas Nekeas Nekeas
Villa De Villatuerta Chivite 2008 from Bodegas Chivite

The bronzes winners:
Palacio De La Vega Crianza 2008 Bodegas Palacio De La Vega
Payment Cirsus Winery Chardonnay 2011 Payment of Cirsus
Payment of Special Cuvée Cirsus 2008 from Bodegas Pago De Cirsus
Gran Feudo Rosado 2011 from Bodegas Chivite
Vineyard Manor De Sarria No. 5 Bodega de Sarria 2011
Piedmont Piedmont Winery Rosé 2011

And the commended wines:
Garnacha Tinto 2011 Terraplen Domain Lasierpe, Orchidea Inurrieta Cuvée 2009, 2009 and Inurrieta Inurrieta Four Orchidea 2011 from Bodegas Inurrieta, Selected Harvest Cirsus Pay 2009 and Pay 2007 Late Harvest Muscat Cirsus Repayment Cirsus Winery, Villa De Villatuerta Chivite Winery Chardonnay 2010 Chivite Sarría Manor Foster Bodega de Sarria 2009, F. Limited Edition 2010 Olympia Olympia Winery and F. Olympia 15 April 2011 from Bodegas Olympia Reserva 2006 Piedmont, Foothills Foster Blend 2007 Piedmont 2010 Piedmont Gamma Gamma Tinto 2011 Bodegas White Piedmont, 2007 Larrainzar Payment Payment Larrainzar Wine, Tesco Finest Navarra Rose 2011, Marco Real 2007 and Tribute 2011 from Bodegas Marco Real.

 A big congratulations to one and all!

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Posted June 8th, 2012

VINOFEST 2012

The Navarra VINOFEST is coming to the town of San Sebastián!

Vinofest is an annual wine and food festival of D.O. Navarra wines and Navarra Gourmet products. This is an amazing opportunity which you can not miss! Come and enjoy the wide variety of products from a land as diverse as Navarra. Try wine and food all of extraordinary quality from 15 wineries and 70 restaurants!

On June 9, for just 5 Euros, you can get a crystal wine glass, 3 tastings of delicious Navarra wines, 2 samples of Navarra Goumet products, and be entered in a drawing for a weekend getaway to Navarra!

During the whole week, local bars and restaurants will be running special food and wine deals- you want to be here for all of this!

Check out their website at: www.vinofestnavarra.com

 Navarra- Live it. Drink it.

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