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Chivite Winery Guide

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Winery Overview

Along with Ochoa, Chivite is certainly one of the finest wineries in Navarra. It is also one of Spain’s great wine dynasties, with documented links between the Chivite family and winemaking dating back to 1647. In 1860, Claudio Chivite began exporting wine to France, establishing an important trade with Bayonne and Bordeaux and helping to lay the foundations of the modern company.

Yet the spiritual father of present-day Chivite was Julián Chivite Marco. In the 20th century, he transformed the family business, introducing major improvements to the winery, developing its first brands, and helping open export markets for Navarra wines. His achievements were recognized in 1992 when he received the Order of Agricultural Merit from the King of Spain. Don Julián died in 1996, but his influence on both Chivite and the wider Navarra wine industry is difficult to overstate.

A particularly important milestone came in 1985, when Chivite celebrated 125 years since its first documented export to Bordeaux with the release of 125 Aniversario Gran Vino 1981, the forerunner of today’s Colección 125 range. The collection later became synonymous with Chivite’s more ambitious side; the Colección 125 Gran Vino Blanco, first produced in 1993, remains one of the finest new-wave Spanish whites on the market today.

After Perelada acquired Grupo Chivite in 2017, the business became part of Perelada & Chivite, while Julián Chivite López continues the family’s long association with the estate. Today, the Chivite portfolio centers on three ranges: Colección 125, Finca Legardeta, and Las Fincas. The emphasis is increasingly on Navarra’s vineyards and terroir, particularly Finca Legardeta, with wines ranging from elegant Chardonnay and finely structured reds to the distinctive Las Fincas rosé and white.

Navarra Food and Wine Tour

Navarra Food and Wine Tour

Embark on a journey through the flavors of Spain on a Navarra Food & Wine Tour. Discover delectable delights and rich culture on this culinary adventure. Book now!

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Author

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With a passion for food & drink that verges on the obsessive, wine writer James Lawrence has traveled the world in search of the perfect tipple. To date, nothing has surpassed the 1952 R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Rioja Reserva, tasted in the cobweb-filled cellars with owner María José. Meanwhile, James has written for a wide variety of publications, including The Telegraph, Decanter, Harpers Wine & Spirit, The Drinks Business, and Wine Business International. He lives in South Wales and returns to his former university city, Bilbao, as much as possible.

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