The Chivite family can boast one the oldest wine traditions in Spain. A mortgage document dated from 1647 records the existence of a winery and vineyards. As the leading brand in Navarra, Chivite set the trend for the region's rosé, established top quality standards for international varieties and championed Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains, vinifying it in the style of a great sweet wine.
In 2017, the company was bought by the Catalan group Perelada. Some years earlier, the portfolio had already been completely restructured with the creation of Bodegas Gran Feudo as a separate winery focused on the more commercial, high-volume wines such as its flagship rosé, while J. Chivite Family Estates became the umbrella for the premium range.
J. Chivite Family Estates is rooted in Finca Legardeta, a 600-hectare estate with over 100 hectares of vineyards. Located on the slopes of the Montejurra mountain in Navarra's Tierra Estella subzone, it lies further north than any vineyard in Rioja and has higher rainfall. These conditions, closer to those of Bordeaux, have made it possible to plant at high densities of up to 6,000 vines per hectare.
In fact, the Chivite family initially focused on international grape varieties, particularly Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as Syrah, alongside the local Tempranillo. Today, the estate grows all varieties permitted by DO Navarra. Garnacha has gained greater attention in recent years, both red and white, although the latter faces particularly challenging growing conditions in Legardeta.
Legardeta's gently undulating landscape provides a range of exposures, while the nearby Ega River moderates the climate, protecting the vineyards from frost and cooling them in summer. It also encourages the formation of autumn mists that favour the development of noble rot. The soils are predominantly sandstone with a clay-limestone structure, similar to those found in other areas on the left bank of the Ebro River, such as Rioja Alta and Alavesa.
The wines
The wines are divided into three ranges: Colección 125, Finca Villatuerta and Las Fincas.
Colección 125 was released in 1985 to mark the winery’s first export operation, carried out in 1860. The late French oenologist Denis Dubourdieu (1949–2016) advised the Chivite family for several years and played a key role in the creation of both the Chardonnay (€60) and the late-harvest Muscat-à-Petit-Grains (€35 for a 37.5 cl bottle). The Colección 125 range also includes a red wine and an original oak-aged rosé, both priced at €30. All of these wines are currently sold with the legend 'Gran Vino' (Great Wine).
Following the takeover by Perelada, the wines are now overseen by David González, a winemaker with extensive experience in Rioja. While he has prioritised continuity, he has also introduced subtle refinements in the Colección 125 range, such as picking the Chardonnay slightly earlier and adding a small amount of Syrah to the predominantly Garnacha and Tempranillo rosé. He has also reintroduced international varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, to the red blend, which had previously evolved into a single-varietal Tempranillo.
More accesible in price, the Finca Legardeta range, retailing between €15 and €18, focuses on single-varietal wines: a white Chardonnay, two reds made from Syrah and Garnacha, and a red blend combining Syrah, Garnacha and Tempranillo.
Finally, Las Fincas is the product of an initial collaboration with Juan Mari Arzak, the three-Michelin star chef from San Sebastián. Under this brand, a refined pale rosé is produced using Garnacha and Tempranillo grapes, while the white 2 Garnachas blends equal proportions of red and white Garnacha grapes. Both wines are currently priced at around €13 in Spain. This range has always been sold under the VT 3 Riberas designation, while Finca Legardeta was sold as DO Navarra. Colección 125 was moved to 3 Riberas, but Perelada intends to return it to DO Navarra.