Tierra de Estella Wine Region

Tierra de Estella Is located in the commune of Estella in western Navarra surrounded by the Basque Country and La rioja. The region incorporates a set of basins, valleys, plains, and mountains. The Ega, the most significant river, flows across the region while the Urederra is its largest tributary, springing right in the middle of Sierra Urbasa. Tierra de Estella, a well-known sub-region, produces various wines renowned worldwide for their excellence and distinctiveness. We welcome you to discover these exceptional wines as you journey across the Navarra wine region.

Check out the best wine tastings and tours in Tierra de Estella!

Where is the Tierra de Estella wine region?

Tierra de Estella is located in northern Spain, in the central-western region of Navarra, and in the physical area of Tierra Estella, at the crossroads of the Mountain and the Ribera Alta of Navarra. The vineyards are mainly on the banks of the twisting river Ega. The region is surrounded by Bearin from the north, Zurucuáin from the northeast, Valley of Arandigoyen and Villatuerta from the east, Ayegui from the south, and Arbeiza from the west. This fascinating wine region is just 42km southwest of the city of Pamplona that will take roughly 37minutes through Autovia Camino de Santiago A-12. Cheers, and good drinking!

History of the Tierra de Estella wine region

The commune of Estella is also called Lizarra which means “ash tree” in the Basque language. The term Estella comes from the Latin word Stella which means Star. The commune was developed as a point of rest between the pilgrimage route through the Camino de Santiago and also medieval communes of San Miguel, San Salvador del Arenal, and San Juan. The emblem of the town of Estella has been an eight-pointed star since the 14th century. The region has a rich history with a diverse population and cultural heritage. The area was occupied by the Basques then the Romans, Franks, and Arabs. Most of the castles, fortified towns, cathedrals, and churches in Navarra were the outcome of battles in the area. 

The terroir and geography of the Tierra de Estella wine region

The Tierra de Estella region is blessed with climate, land, and skillful winemakers for centuries. The wine appellation is blessed with a Mediterranean climate, due to Urbasa and Andia Sierras, with an annual temperature of 13 degrees and annual rainfall of 570mm. The northern area is in the sub-humid zone while the southern parts are in the dry zone.  The winter is quite cold and vineyards are prone to frost. The vineyards are spread across 1800 hectares and divided into two by the river Ega. The lands are diverse with mountainous terrain to even areas in the southern part. The soils in the Tierra de Estella are mostly clayey soil with marls.

Popular grape varieties from the Tierra de Estella wine region

The Tempranillo is the dominant red variety in the region accounting for more than 50% of total production. The second popular variety for the red wines of Tierra de Estella is Cabernet Sauvignon. For the white wines, Chardonnay is mostly used. The reds exclusively made from the Tempranillo variety have a rich color with a fruity aroma mostly red berries. These wines are fresh and rounded on the tongue. 

Food to pair with Tierra de Estella wine 

Lasagne alla Bolognese

This rich and hearty piatto unico is usually constructed with layers of handmade, often spinach-flavored fresh egg lasagna noodles topped with béchamel sauce and ragù alla Bolognese, a thick beef sauce.

Before serving, lasagne Alla Bolognese is generously dusted with Parmigiano-Reggiano, the Emilian king of cheeses, and cooked until soft on the inside with a delightfully crisp, browned top. This oven-baked classic is a specialty of the Emilia-Romagna region, and particularly of the city of Bologna. This dish has grown in popularity through time and is often recognized as a global emblem of Italian food. 

Barbecue

Barbecue is mostly known as a cooking method usually enjoyed in an outdoor social gathering, at which meats or fish along with vegetables are roasted over a wood or a charcoal fire with the lid closed. 

Barbecuing has been a part of American culture and is popular throughout the United States, enjoyed during a celebration or social gathering. Barbecue is often served along with the sauce, salad, sweet potato, and beans. Mostly favored meat is pork and beef. Other barbecued items include lamb, chicken, sausages, and sometimes seafood as well. 

Most zinfandel pairs very well with barbecued meat and sausages that are smoked with the sweet and spicy marinade. 

Pair up with the powerful Tempranillo red wines from Tierra de Estella. 

Nachos

Nachos were invented in 1943 in Piedras Negras, Mexico, especially for wives of military officers. The dish was invented in a restaurant called the victory club as the outcome of some readily available ingredients along with tortilla chips in the restaurant called the victory club. The dish contains cheese, jalapeno peppers, and tortilla chips. Nacho was promoted on both sides of the border. The combination of chips and melted cheese rapidly grew popular, and by the 1960s, it had become a Tex-Mex staple. Some credit a guy called Frank Liberto with making nachos into a global sensation since he was the one who converted the meal into stadium food in the United States, significantly increasing nacho sales and raising their popularity.

Places to visit in the Tierra de Estella wine region

Castillo de Monjardin

Castillo de Monjardin is locally known as San Esteban de Deyo which is a remain of the castle of the hill facing the Villamayor de Monjardin of Navarre. The Castle was built in Roman times and was rebuilt a lot of times through the centuries. Before being captured by King Sancho I of Navarre in 914, it was one of the final fortifications of the Banu Qasi, the local Muslim dynasty. According to the Historia Caroli Magni et Rotholandi, a fabled story of Charlemagne and Roland's lives from in the 12th-century Codex Calixtinus, Charlemagne took the fortress from a Navarrese lord called Furré. Today, just the castle's walls remain. Many of the stones were used to construct the Ermita de San Esteban, a Baroque hermitage, in the 17th century.

The ruins of Castillo de Monjardin was granted a Bien de Interés Cultural de Navarra on 25 June 1985.

Palacio de la Vega

The Countess de la Vega del Pozo built the XNUMXth-century neo-Gothic palace on a 70,000 sq meter estate 12 kilometers from Estella-Lizarra. The interior is decorated with coffered ceilings, fireplaces, and a massive majestic staircase. The area outside the palace has a lovely botanical garden with a wide variety of flowers, mostly roses. 

The winery that bears the name of this majestic structure was formed in 1991 with the vision of producing high-quality wines. Warehouses with contemporary technology and barrel rooms produce superb wines. These wines have won prestigious medals such as the Union of Tasters' Gold Bacchus for white wine in contact with oak, which stands out for its freshness.

The winery is housed in a neo-Gothic palace and is dedicated solely to the production of pacharán.

Frequently asked questions about Tierra de Estella