While most Americans know Spain’s famous Rioja region, they can expect to increasingly find high quality–and often valued priced–wines from Navarra. This region lies in the north of Spain between Rioja and the border of France not too far from the Bordeaux wine region. Bordeaux has influenced winemaking in this this region, particularly starting in 1880s. At that time Bordeaux winemakers took their skills to Spain to escape the outbreak of phylloxera, an insect that nearly destroyed Europe’s wine industry until it was finally brought under control. Both Rioja and Navarra benefited as French winemakers shared some of the best winemaking expertise in the world at the time.

Like Bordeaux, these regions often blend various grapes (Bordeaux always blends) to make their wines, except in Spanish winemakers use native varieties that give their wines a unique character and style. Key among these grapes is Tempranillo, a grape that can produce soft, fruity and relatively light reds to big bold, oaked and aged reds. This grape is often blended with the Spanish Garnacha, which is the same grape as Grenache used to make southern Rhone Wines in France. Garnacha–which tends to be light, spicy, and high in alcohol–adds wonderful spice and fruit elements. It is also used to make dry and off dry (slightly sweet) rose wines, several lovely examples of which were available at the event. In addition, Navarra is also making blends that include more well known international/Bordeaux varietals like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and other grapes, often blended together or with Tempranillo.

At the event were wines produced by Bodegas Campos de Enanzo, the largest winery in Navarra. They produce a host of valued-priced, high-quality wines. A personal favorite was their incredible value wine: the unoaked Tempranillo, which retails for just $9.99. Even with the absence of oak, this is an unusually rich wine that is soft, fruity and a bit savory. Another treat is the 2004 Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon, Crianza, which retails for just $14.99. According to Winesearcher you can find Enanzo wines in New York, but the Weekly Wine Pick learned at the tasting that the winery has just located a D.C. distributor. Look for these wines on store shelves and on wine lists soon in D.C.!

One table down the row was the Castillo Monjardin, which offered a number of lovey wines at great prices. Their Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Crianza, 2005 (which also includes some Tempranillo) is a fantastic buy with retail prices around $12. Aged in French and American oak, this wine was grown in an excellent vintage year and offers soft and fruity notes. The Wine Advocate rates it an 89, and gives equally high ratings to their Tempranillo and a blend called Dejo as well as to their other wines. These wines surely are well-made. Keep an eye out for them at your local retail shops.