Decanter Presents... new event series

Join us at Decanter’s Tasting Suite for an evening of history and benchmark wines with Chivite, a winery that is synonymous with the mountainous landscape of Navarra, in northern Spain. Founded in 1647, Chivite weaves tradition and innovation with a strong commitment to quality. It’s one of the flagbearers of terroir-driven winemaking in Navarra, leveraging the region’s unique landscape, diverse geology and singular convergence of Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pyrenean influences. Chivite wines are known for their great depth and structure, balanced by great elegance, having long been considered benchmark expressions of Navarra.

In this guided tasting, hosts David González, head winemaker at Chivite, and Inês Salpico, Decanter’s regional editor for Spain, will explore how the focus on terroir and the knowledge accumulated over centuries of experience define the character and evolution of Chivite’s wines. A unique opportunity to discover the winery’s identity and enduring legacy through a stellar line-up that includes historic vintages of some of its most iconic labels.

With more than 25 years of experience, González honed his craft at renowned wineries across Spain’s leading wine regions, including Ribera del Duero and Rioja.

Throughout his extensive career, González has built long-standing relationships with hundreds of growers and championed the recovery of old vineyards in remote areas, namely in DOCa Rioja. His work has earned him recognition from leading critics, who have named him one of a new generation of winemakers ‘writing their own rules’.

In 2023, he joined Chivite as head winemaker, bringing with him a deep belief in the land and a contemporary outlook. He has been applying his philosophy while maintaining full respect for the historic values and legacy of the Navarra winery.

He is also an associate professor at the University of La Rioja, where he teaches in both the undergraduate and master’s oenology programmes.

Ines is Decanter’s regional editor for Spain, Portugal and South America. Born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, she grew up chasing her grandfather among his vines in Ribatejo and thus her love for all things wine began. After completing her Masters Degree in Architecture, Ines worked as a project manager while writing about wine and doing cellar consulting on the side. After moving to London nine years ago, she decided to dedicate herself fully to the wine industry and joined the sommelier team at Michelin-starred Spring, Somerset House. Stints at Noble Rot and The Laughing Heart followed, while completing her WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits.

Her work as a judge and writer eventually became her full time commitment and she joined Decanter in 2019 as wine database editor.