If clean flavours, zing and eye-popping freshness are your thing, then this is for you! Ultra-fashionable and unbelievably hip, there is much more to this wine than trendy bars and foodie trips to the north coast of Spain.
Flavours of citrus fruits with ginger, blossom and a characteristic light fizz or spritz, this saline-edged wine is refreshing and tasty and a superb accompaniment to typical seafood dishes, pork and paella. Pretty delicious too with boquerones, tuna and salted almonds.
It is the signature wine of the Basque region and is made from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape variety (not an easy sell) grown on steep terraces on the Bay of Biscay. The vines are grown on high trellises and the bodega are practically hands-off until harvest time, using cover crops and insects to keep diseases at bay.
It's the winemaking that brings the characteristic features of brightness, because the fermentation is stopped very quickly, leaving some undissolved carbon dioxide in the wine before bottling, which means that when you open it, you get a lovely refreshing prickle on your tongue. Completely charming and very apt for the summer evenings.
Traditionally these wines are served in Basque pinxto bars, poured from height into tall tumbler glasses, to highlight the fizz and help it dissipate for those who'd rather it become a little more still.
Txacoli is not an easy sell, it hasn't become very well known in spite of many wine enthusiasts rabbeting-on about it. And it is a bit unpractical to serve in the traditional manner; so we recommend decanting it from the bottle if you can, because it is such a rewarding wine that offers a wonderful glimpse into the rich traditions of this region.
Region: Basque
Country: Spain
Grape(s): Hondarrabi Zuri
Style: Vibrant, Medium-Light, Fresh, Engaging, Elegant, Crisp, Bright
Best food matches: Tuna, Tapas, Sushi, Shellfish, Seafood, Scallops, Salads, Poultry, Pasta, Oysters, Hard Cheeses, Charcuterie, Asparagus, Aperitif
Alcohol: 12%
