History

A short time ago, a team of researchers identified plants of the primitive, original “vitis silvestris” in Navarre. This plant has been found in very few areas around the world, and it can be dated back to some five million years ago.

Antiquity

The first documented vine growing and wine making records in Navarre are from the period in which the region was dominated by the Romans. The vestiges of former Roman wine cellars, funeral monuments and amphorae confirm the social and economic importance of vine growing during that period. Under Arab domination, the importance of the vine was maintained and, gradually, the vine growing limits were extended.

Middle Ages

Two events furthered the progress of the vines : the creation of the first monasteries in the 9th and 10th centuries, and the commencement of the Way of St James. The pilgrims brought new grape varieties to Navarre and the monasteries were pioneers in creating and disseminating new wine producing techniques.

In the 14th century, Navarre was already an important wine producer and exporter. The start of the 15th century was probably the greatest period of vineyard expansion, going beyond the northern limits of Pamplona. The vine was the principal crop of the farmers in Pamplona, to such an extent that it was necessary to limit the land dedicated to vineyards in order to cultivate cereals, necessary to feed the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Navarre.

Contemporary period

During the 19th century, viticulture in Navarre was at its heights, whilst this period also marked the onset of a catastrophe. The appearance of phylloxera in France from 1856 onwards and the subsequent destruction of the vineyards of this neighbouring country led to a tremendous boost in grape cultivation and exports to France. However, a few years later, phylloxera also reached Spain and totally destroyed vineyards in Navarre. Of the 50,000 hectares under cultivation in Navarre, 48,500 were destroyed.

This catastrophe led to the initiative to reconstruct all the vineyards in Spain. Encouraged by the Navarre Government, nurseries were set up for new phylloxera-resistant plants to supply the Navarre vine growers and also any vineyards in Spain requesting this new wine grape rootstock.

Navarre currently has 17,753 hectares distributed between the five wine-producing zones.