What is Txakoli? The fruity Basque wine
If you are visiting the Basque Country soon, as well as visiting all the corners of the city, we invite you to try Txakoli, a white wine with designation of origin from 1989. This wine is characterised for being the traditional and best known wine of the Basque Country as well as for being made with local grapes.
What is txakoli?
Txakoli is generally recognised as a fruity wine, with a low alcohol content, approximately 10.5 degrees on average. It is normally made in the land of origin, although we are beginning to find more than one plantation in the area of Cantabria and the north of Burgos.
Txakoli or chacolí is usually drunk on its own, and due to its freshness, it is usually a wine that goes very well before lunch. If you want to accompany it with a meal, pintxos from the Basque Country are always a good option.
If you are thinking of using this wine in a special or important event or meal, we recommend that you pair it with seafood and fish, both white and blue.
Variety and texture of Txakoli wine
There is a wide variety of Txakoli wines, so many that there is a Txakoli for every occasion. Below, we will talk about the main groups of Txakoli wines that exist.
We can find any variety of the renowned white Txakoli all over the Basque Country. It is usually recognised by its faded yellow colour, although it may have a little more weight in other types of greener wines. In the Basque Country, it is very common to blend these two types of grapes, Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratia, to obtain wines with a wide variety of aromas.
A type of wine with a certain citric and fruity flavour that provides certain nuances of freshness and sometimes a more sour tone.
There is a selection of 14 brands that show the quality and variety of white wine. Some of the most famous brands are Doniene, Ieup, Lapazaran, Mendraka, among others.
Another type of this type of wine is the barrel-fermented white Txakoli. A wine with a strong aroma and a much more settled taste than the usual white wine. In the mouth, its flavour is constant and at the same time tender, with an aromatic and fruity finish.
Finally, we find the Rosé Txakoli, traditionally known as “Ojo de gallo”. This rosé wine, as its name suggests, has pink tones. The aroma of this wine is similar to that of wild fruits.
In the mouth it leaves a light, fresh and lively taste, very easy to drink.
If you are one of those who prefer cider to wine, with a visit to Sagardoetxea you can taste our Basque cider.
Difference between txakoli and white wine or semisweet wine
The main difference between txakoli and semi-sweet wine is that the former is a drier type with an alcohol content above 12 degrees, which characterizes it with more acidity than sweet or semi-sweet wine.
Txakoli Getaria
Over the years, Getaria has maintained its wine tradition, which has lasted until the present day. The town has a multitude of wineries where you will find all types of wine typical of the region and where you can enjoy the best Txakoli wine.
Although to refer to the wines of Gipuzkoa we must mention our own denomination of origin Txakoli de Getaria or Getariako Txakolina. This type of wine is produced and harvested in the province of Gipuzkoa, where we maintain strict quality controls to always maintain the excellence of our own wines.
If you are passionate about the world of viticulture and you are going to visit the Basque Country soon, get in touch with us! In Free Walking Tour San Sebastian, we show you the most famous wineries in the city and we explain everything about them, their wines, age, etc. ….
You can also contact us if you are interested in visiting other places in the city. On our website we offer you a variety of tours from which you can choose to get to know the corners of the city that you most want to visit, and we will also explain everything about its curiosities.