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Vino 101

Discover Your Style of Wine

Supporting the concept of “Your Style of Wine” we show visitors various ways to be a “Navarra Wine Lover” by learning about wine with us at “Wine 101”.

Provide levels of information, ranging from “basic” information on the various styles of wines to be discovered in Navarra, to an explanation of “how” many styles can be found thanks to the diverse terroir in its 5 sub-zones.

 

Beginner level: provide info on what kind of wines can be found in Navarra as if it were a beginner level wine tasting class. 

 

Objective here is gain confidence with consumers and lend “gravitas” to the slogan “Your Style of Wine” so that they become “Navarra Wine Lovers”. 

 

Very few wine regions can make quality white, rose, red and desert wines.  Let’s take advantage of it and “teach” consumers how “discover their style of wine”. 

 

Advanced level: info will be provided in the “Terroir Trilogy” section to explain how such a range of wines can be produced.

“Vino 101: Blanco – Rosado – Tinto – Dulce”

Add graphical color range to show various styles of wines in an order as if it were a multi-course meal with descriptors below and links to more info.

Vinos Blancos (2): Pale-yellow to Rich Yellow

Styles: Crisp and clean to rich and complex

  1. Crisp, mineral-driven

http://navarrawine.us/wine/wine-styles/crisp-white/

Basic factors that influence this style of wine:

Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks to highlight acidity and minerality.

Pair with light starters and salads.

  1. Rich, aromatic

http://navarrawine.us/wine/wine-styles/rich-aromatic-white/

Basic factors that influence this style of wine:

Wine is fermented in new oak barrels, and remain in contact with the lees resulting in a fuller mouth-feel, ripe fruit and complex aromas.

Pair with sea bass and salmon.

Vinos Rosados (2): Pale-rosé to Cheery-Red Rosé

Need to add two glasses to show the range of styles of rosados currently in the market. 

Styles: from subtle “provençal” to traditional Navarran rosado

http://navarrawine.us/wine/wine-styles/rosado/

In Navarra the rosé wines are produced using the “saignée” or bleeding-off technique that give wines an evocative color with fresh fruit aromas.  The “claret” style, which is a blend of red and white wine, is not permitted.

Basic factors that influence this style of wine:

  1. Varietals: the pigment of the wine comes from the grape skins, so depending on the choice of variety of grapes the color will be different. Most traditional Navarran rosados are 100% Garnacha but today there is also a tendency to create blends with Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon.
  1. Winemaking techniques:

Maceration time – besides the choice of grape variety, the amount of time the juice spends macerating will also influence the color.  Since the pigment comes from the grape skins, the time macerating and the grape variety will produce a Rosado pale or intense cheery color.

Barrel aging – other styles in the market include barrel-fermented rosé wines lending a slight spicy note.

Pairing suggestions:  great with starters, pasta, rice dishes.

Vinos Tintos (3): Purple to Burgundy Rich Red

Style: from youthful fruit-forward to complex and full-bodied

  1. Soft, aromatic: “Joven” “Tinto Roble”

http://navarrawine.us/wine/wine-styles/soft-aromatic-red/

Basic factors that influence this style of wine:

Wine spends little or no time in oak barrels, focusing on the fruitful expression.

Pair with cured meats, cheese and light appetizers

  1. Spicy, herbal: “Crianza”, “Reserva” and “Gran Reserva”

http://navarrawine.us/wine/wine-styles/spicyherbal-red/

Basic factors that influence this style of wine:

These wines spend two to five years aging with at least one year in the barrel, bringing out spicy notes and dark fruit.

The type of oak barrels (American or French for example) also imparts notes on the wines.  American oak tends to give vanilla and coconut aromas where as French oak leaves toasted almond, clove and caramel notes.

Pair these wines with grilled meat, roasts and casseroles

  1. Old-vine “Icon”: limited production wines from oldest vines

http://navarrawine.us/wine/wine-styles/old-vine-red/

Basic factors that influence this style of wine:

Usually made from the oldest vines, which produce fewer clusters and intense fruit.  The older the vine, the fewer berries and the skins on the berries tend to be thicker having adapted to their surroundings for such a long time, and since pigment is found in the skins the wines tend to be darker and fuller-bodied.

Pairs well with game dishes, roasted meats.

Vinos Dulces (2): Golden Yellow to Ambar

Desert Wines: honey floral wines, limited production

http://navarrawine.us/wine/wine-styles/sweet/

Basic factors that influence this style of wine:

The alcohol content is higher than dry white wines due to the higher sugar content found in Moscatel de Grano Menudo.

Pairs well with foie gras, goat’s cheese and desert.

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