Home Beverages Txakoli wine: the Basque symbol with worldwide recognition

Txakoli wine: the Basque symbol with worldwide recognition

El Txakoli, a wine loved by many but still criticized by many others who say that it is a wine of doubtful quality, too acidic and that it brings a good headache. However, in recent years every effort has been made to change that image around this symbol of Basque gastronomy. In reality, it is a young, modern wine of an excellent quality that only the weather and the land of the Basque Country they are able to give it. The txakoli wine, which we know today, is the result of generations and generations of winegrowers who dedicated their lives to the good work of the product. Let's get to know it a little more!

With more than 500 years of history

So is. This white wine dates back, more or less, to 1520 in the Basque Country. That is why the vast majority of production This drink is still made there today. It is a wine with little alcohol graduationl, with fruity tones that contrast with the acidity feature of this product. This is, among others, one of the factors that differentiate the Txakoli of other wines.

Berroja Winery
Vineyards of the Berroja Winery | Source: bodegaberroja.com

What makes this white wine special is the location of the vineyards. The fact that they are located in the Cantabrian coast get them impregnated with those aromas and flavors so characteristic of the area. In addition, the grapes with which it is produced (hondarribi zuri -white- and hondarribi beltza -inta-) are autochthonous, which makes the txakoli wine an even more unique product.

This wine has always been present in the Basque way of life. So much so that in the nineteenth century the so-called 'chacolines', which were nothing other than taverns who were dedicated to the sale of txakoli accompanied, mainly, with seafood: squid or cod, two emblems of the region.

 

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Txakoli wine, product with Denomination of Origin

In the resurgence of txakoli as a quality wine, it had a lot to do with obtaining the seal of appellation of origin. As of today, there are three DOs for txakoli.

  • Getariako Txakolina (DO of Guetaria, Guipúzcoa). In 1989 and with this recognition, txakoli began to be seen in a different way: as a very competitive wine with much to offer.
  • Biscay Txakolina (DO Vizcaya), in 1994.
  • Arabako Txakolina (DO of Álava). Although it was the last to obtain the seal -2001- with this it was possible to definitively promote txakoli in the world wine market.
txakoli grape
The grape used to make txakoli is native to the Basque Country | Source: bodegak5.com

The txakoli in the cellars

All the wineries they have an important role in the recognition of this white wine so characteristic of the Basque community. There they combine the tradition of a centenary product and the modernity that make it even more exquisite. A clear example of this is the work of the winery Gorka Izagirre. He has won many awards, such as the gold medal at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2017. The jury's evaluations included observations such as "salty nuances with light hints of lime and a dry finish with hints of green apple" or "fresh and well-balanced palate with a dry finish."

And if that wasn't enough, the winery collaborated with one of the most renowned chefs in Spanish gastronomy, the Biscayan Eneko Atxa of Mil Restaurant azurmendi. He txakoli 42 by Eneko Atxa 2015 was named the best international white wine at the Brussels World Contest. A great recognition considering that it was the first time that a txakoli wine with DO de Vizcaya received this award worldwide.

txakoli eneko atxa
42 by Eneko Atxa with the chef and representative of the winery | Source: gorkaizagirre.com

Other wineries like Txakoli K5 (Guipuzkoa), Txakoli Hiruzta Winery (Hondarribia) or Txakoli Astobiza Winery (Álava) are just some of the many that there are and that are dedicated to the production of this very special white wine. It even has its own museum in the town of Bakio (Bilbao).

El txakoli wine it has become, as we have seen, over the years, a true symbol of the Basque community. It has gone from being a simple wine that was made in hamlets hundreds of years ago with what there was, to have obtained a multitude of acknowledgments not only at the national level, but also at the international level. A wine full of history that has only evolved but always maintaining that tradition that makes it a symbol of Basque gastronomy.

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