Age and beauty: why this Spanish producer is a favourite with the Spanish royal household

Chivite, one of Spain’s oldest wineries, has been crafting wine for almost 400 years, satisfying a range of palates from local communities to royals, yet it  continues to set new benchmarks for the industry.

Founded in 1647, Navarra-based Chivite is one of Europe’s oldest wine producers. The distinctive style of its wines has stood the test of time for centuries, winning over a broad spectrum of palates, from local Spanish communities through to royalty.

Exceptional, ageworthy wines have always been a part of Chivite’s DNA, but an increased focus on single-vineyard expressions, underscored by a patchwork quilt of enviable terroir, is elevating the estate’s offer even further.

The heart of Chivite’s operations lies in the Legardeta Estate in the town of Villatuerta, with the vineyard recognised as one of Spain’s finest viticultural sites. This unique terroir was a treasure trove for Chivite’s head winemaker David González to discover when he joined the winery in 2023, having first made his mark in Rioja and Ribera del Duero. González’s winemaking philosophy, focused on the authentic expression and typicity of each grape variety, is geared towards conveying this singular corner of Spain in the purest way possible.

Spread over 103 hectares, the Legardeta Estate benefits from a unique microclimate – Atlantic breezes from the north blow in and meet Mediterranean warmth from the southeast – and the vineyard also benefits from the benevolent shelter of the Pyrenees, allowing for slow, balanced grape maturation.

Legardeta’s tapestry of soils and high-density plantings produce wines of remarkable structure, aromatic complexity and depth. The diverse terroir means that, even within the same plot, areas bathed in intense sunlight co-exist with other rows cosseted by shade, creating a mosaic of aromas and flavours that define the fruit-forward, elegant wines in the Finca Legardeta range.

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This collection comprises a white (Chardonnay) and a red blend (Syrah/Grenache/Tempranillo), and is characterised by fruit-forward expressions with solid structure and innate elegance.

COLECCIÓN 125

A step up from this is the Colección 125 range, which includes Grandes Vinos made from Chardonnay, Moscatel and Tempranilllo, along with a high-end Garnacha/Tempranillo rosado. Careful winemaking ensures that these exceptional expressions produce ageworthy wines, crafted to appeal to the most discerning collectors.

For instance, Colección 125 Gran Vino Blanco, since its first vintage in 1993, has emerged as a benchmark in the field of white wines, privileged to feature in the most select banquets of the Spanish Royal Household. This single-plot Chardonnay from Legardeta Estate is barrel-fermented, shining for its complex aromatic range.

Additionally, the Las Fincas collection represents Chivite’s more contemporary edge. Introduced in 2015, Las Fincas Rosé has helped redefine the path for rosés in Spain with its pale tone and generous aromatic intensity, boasting notes of stone fruits with a subtle floral touch.

According to González: “We are entering a phase where experimentation and tradition must go hand-in-hand. The goal is to maintain the core identity of wines that established them as national benchmarks, while at the same time enhancing their versatility and longevity.”