Winemaking tradition in the Ochoa family dates back to the late 19th century, yet the current winery was established in the 1990s by Javier Ochoa after having led EVENA, the Navarra Viticulture and Oenology Research Institute, between 1981 and 1992. Today, it is managed by his daughters Adriana, who is in charge of winemaking, and Beatriz, who oversees sales.
Since 2000, the winery has relied entirely on its own grapes. Ochoa grows 145 hectares of organic vineyards. The vast majority are located south of Olite, in Traibuenas, in the Ribera Alta sub-region, close to the confluence of the Cidacos and Aragón rivers. The vineyards include El Bosque, Santa Cruz, El Secadero, La Pedrera and La Milla. Most of the soils consist of sand over a bed of clay, with varying amounts of pebbles on the surface (the more pebbles, the more suitable the grapes are for the Reserva category). Ferrous clay soils are also found in the area. The oldest vines are in Finca Montijo, the vineyard surrounding the winery on the outskirts of Olite.
Tempranillo is the dominant variety, followed by Garnacha, Graciano, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and the white varieties Muscat à Petit Grains, Viura, Viognier and Chardonnay. Part of the Garnacha vineyard has been regrafted with some 200 biotypes recovered by the Public University of Navarra and the Vitis Navarra nursery. Ochoa also pioneered the recovery of Muscat à Petit Grains, paving the way for a fresher style of sweet wines, closer in aroma and flavour to the distinctive character of the berry. With 25 hectares under vine, Ochoa owns 20% of the total area planted with this variety in the DO.
As this is a hot area, the grapes are harvested mechanically at night in order to preserve their aromas and freshness and to obtain cleaner musts from the start. Almost 1m kilos arrive at the winery, but only 500,000 bottles are produced. A small part is usually earmarked for R&D projects.
The wines
In 2025, the winery undertook a bold revamp of its wines and packaging, placing the Ochoa brand firmly in the spotlight. Most labels now prominently feature the logo set against a backdrop of evocative photographs taken by Javier Ochoa. The wines are organised into three distinct ranges, each reflectinga theme: Now, Here and Always. Burgundy bottles predominate, with the exception of the sweet Moscatel and the reds intended for ageing.
The ‘Now’ range showcases fresh, approachable wines made for immediate enjoyment. Among them is Moscato de Ochoa (€15), a splendid take on Moscato d'Asti made from Muscat à Petit Grains, which strikes a perfect balance between bubbles and sugar, resulting in a delicate, pleasant sip at just 5.5% abv. Rosado de Lágrima (€8) presents a new blend, now featuring equal parts of Garnacha and Merlot plus 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The young wines previously sold under the brand Calendas are also part of this range. The white blend of Chardonnay and Viura has been renamed Blanco Lías, while the red Tempranillo is now called Nude (both priced at €6). Meanwhile, Crianza Origen (10 €), aged for nine months in oak, replaces La Foto 1938. It is a blend of Tempranillo (40%) and varying amounts of Garnacha, Merlot and Graciano.
‘Here’ is the range for terroir-driven, limited-production wines developed by Adriana Ochoa in recent years. It also includes Ochoa sweet wine (€15), which spearheaded the recovery of Muscat à Petit Grains in Navarra. Initially a naturally sweet wine, it now has a touch of added alcohol to ensure consistency while preserving its crisp, well-defined fruit quality. Alongside it, the range includes Uva Doble Viognier (€9), a single-varietal Viognier inspired by Adriana’s time at Yalumba winery in Australia.The latest white release is Oxoa (€17, 2,000 bottles in its first 2023 vintage), a dry Muscat à Petit Grains aged for six months in French oak and egg-shaped concrete tanks. A fragrant wine, true to its vareital character, it offers remarkable depth on the palate. The range is completed by the pale, direct-pressed Garnacha rosé Labrit (formerly Maitena, €15), which has its own pleasant, aromatic red version (€15). Other reds include Mil Gracias (€15), a fresh, spicy, herbal Graciano with improved texture, and the Tempranillo Zarpas Crianza (€10).
Dedicated to aged-worthy reds, the 'Always' range retains the aesthetics of yesteryear. Both the Reserva (€20, 15 months ageing) and Gran Reserva (€29, 24 months) are mostly Tempranillo (60% of the blend) aged in American oak, - plus some Merlot and a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, both aged in French oak. With extensive bottle ageing, Corazón de Finca Montijo (€45, fewer than 4,000 bottles) blends 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from the family's oldest vineyard in Olite, as a tribute to Javier Ochoa. Meanwhile, Alma de Finca Secadero (€45, around 1,500 bottles) is a single-vineyard Tempranillo from the eponymous vineyard in Traibuenas, which has stony soils. It is a tribute to the mother, Mariví Alemán, whose unwavering dedication helped shape the winery’s legacy.
Half of the wines, mainly reds, are destined for export, while whites, rosés and sweet wines have a greater presence on the domestic market.
The winery is open for visitors all year round. The standard tour includes a tasting of four wines, the winery's own olive oil and chocolate and local cheeses. A wine bar with an outdoor terrace is open during the summer. Visitors can enjoy young wines from the tap, wines by the glass or tasting flights, accompanied by live music.