Navarra: new DO Pago

Prado de Irache, the estate wine of Bodegas Irache in Navarra, has gained DO Pago status.

This is the second wine of the region to achieve the classification, the highest rank in Spanish wine and the equivalent of the French grand cru.

Bodegas Chivite's DO Pago Ar¨ªnzano gained its spurs in 2007.

DO Pago de Irache, priced at around €100, debuts with the 2006 vintage. The wine is sourced from 30ha of vineyard in the northern Tierra Estella sub-region - the same location as the Ar¨ªnzano vineyard.

Pago de Irache is a blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet and Merlot which is matured in French oak.

There are now six DO Pago wines in total. Castilla-La Mancha was the first region to create legislation for the superior category.

It is home to the DO Pago wines Dominio de Valdepusa (2003), Finca Élez (2003), El Guijoso (2005) and Dehesa del Carrizal (2006).

Navarra became the second region to enact Pago legislation last year.