Ameztoi “Blanco”
getariako Txakolina, spain | 2023
If there ever were a sign that Spring has sprung, it would be the new arrival of the ultimate warm weather white wine, Ameztoi Txakoli!
If you are a new to Txakoli or Txakolina (pronounced cha-ko-lee or cha ko-lee-na), this type of wine comes from the Basque country of Spain. Also known as País Vasco, this region is known as one of the greatest places on earth for food, and in particular, the tradition of Pintxos is alive and well in towns such as San Sebastián. Most weeks, families and friends start their evening out but walking to several different Pintxos bars, where they snack on the various specialities of that particular bar. A Pintxo is really defined as “a portion of food taken as an appetizer, which is sometimes pierced with a toothpick.” The creativity of Pintxos in the Basque country is amazing, from seafood, to vegetables, to jamón, the possibilities seem endless!
All of this is typically washed down with either local sidra (hard apple cider) or the local white wine, Txakolina! As a primer, Txakoli is typically made with the local grape variety Hondarribi Zuri, although other grapes are used. Due to the cold climate and in some cases, the influence of the sea, Txakoli is a high acid white, that is often bottled with natural carbonic gas.
If you’ve never seen the traditional pouring technique of Txakoli from Getariako, it is a sight to behold! The bartender will hold the bottle at shoulder height, with a wide rimmed glass around hip level, skillfully catching the wine at the side of the glass. This accentuates the fizz, by breaking up that carbon gas. It is one of the most fun traditions we have in the wine world.
Ameztoi, run by with generation producer, Ignacio Ameztoi is truly the leader in quality in the subregion of Getariako Txakolina. His vines are perched overlooking the Bay of Biscay, one of the most beautiful vineyards in the world. Some of these vines date back to 1918, with the most recent plantings from 1989. This is 100% old-vine Hondarribi Zuri, fermented in tank, with the tanks chilled near freezing before bottling to keep the carbonic gas. Many producers force carbonation into their Txakolina, but there are no shortcuts at Ameztoi!
The 2023 is insanely refreshing and delicious, with bright notes on the nose of lime zest and lemon, and an almost briny, crisp finish on the palate. Culinarily, this wine goes with seemingly everything! A Le Midi favorite!