The area around Olite is Navarre's  major wine producing region.  Navarre wine has been transformed from mediocre to excellent in the last 25 years.  Navarre is one of the Spanish wine industry's major success stories.  In the early 8o's, the region's wines could best be described as plonk.  The introduction of new production methods and grape varieties has transformed the region's wine into one of the most sought after.  Pre 1980 the Navarre region was overshadowed by its neighbour La Rioja in the production of wine and the most notable wines from Navarre were mostly Rosés.  It is now noted for some excellent reds.  The garnache grape which was the most widely used variety, has been gradually replaced by the tempranillo the favourite grape of the Rioja wine manufacturers.  The wine from Navarre is constantly improving, at the moment it offers great value although it has not yet reached the same distinction as Rioja, it appears to slowly be getting there.