A region with 11,500 hectares under vine, Navarra is home to one appellation, with the exception of the small section that’s part of Rioja DOCa. DO Navarra is split into five subregions - Baja Montaña, Tierra Estella, Valdizarbe, Ribera Alta, and Ribera Baja - all of which have varying climates with it being cool and damp in the north, continental in the center, and Mediterranean in the south. While Navarra was once known for its Garnacha rosés, in the 1980’s they shifted to investing more into Tempranillo and French varietals, often at the expense of Garnacha. Navarra’s most prominent varietals are Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Macabeo, while Graciano, Mazuelo, Malvasia, and Sauvignon Blanc play a supporting role. 

Viña Zorzal Garnacha 2021

Brothers Xabi, Iñaki, and Mikel Sanz created Viña Zorzal in 2007, taking advantage of their long history and tradition as a winemaking family in Correla, Navarra. But while the older generation had been more preoccupied with having a viable and commercial trade, the current one decided to take a holistic approach to agriculture, and make artisanal wines, focusing on single parcels and single vineyards. This Garnacha is a brilliant, intense ruby in the glass, with aromas of ripe strawberries and red currants, spice, and tilled earth. On the palate, this red wine is dry and fresh, with soft, food-friendly tannins and a medium body, and a lingering, refreshing finish.