Txomin Etxaniz, Txacoli

Another Txacoli?!

Yes, but with very different style of execution that we couldn't say no!

This is the fruitier, slightly rounder style of Txacoli that comes from the same grape varieties in the same town of Getaria, yet from slightly warmer sites than our friends in Ameztoi.

The result is a wine that is still extremely crisp, dry and vibrant in acidity and aromas, but with slightly more integrated acidity that gives more of a perfumed and flavour-filled experience.

Plus it's only 11% alcohol...

With the typical Txacoli spritz, this wine delivers flavours orchard fruits and white blossom as well as citrus notes of lime peel and grapefruit. It's a very charming Txacoli that won't make you wince! Extremely trendy, this is to be found in absolutey every Pintxo bar in the Basque region and in many Tapas bars further afield - one sip of it and you'll understand why!

This is the signature wine of the Basque region and is made from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape variety blended with 10% Hondarrabi Beltza (neither of which are familiar to many) grown on steep terraces on the Bay of Biscay. The vines are grown on high trellises to maximise the sunshine hours and to keep the air moving beneath so that when storms develop, they are able to stay relatively risk free from mould. 

It's the winemaking that brings the characteristic features of spritziness: once the fermentation is completed the wine is bottled before it has a chance to settle, leaving some undissolved carbon dioxide in the wine, which means that when you open it, you get a lovely refreshing prickle on your tongue. Completely engaging and very apt for the summer evenings.

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.