Write: Álvaro Hernando - International Sommelier
The wines from the Basque Country and Navarra. In this area we find the northernmost wine of Spain. Bill the Basque Country It is made up of three provinces: Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa to the north, and alava, to the south. Its climate is maritime and its vineyards are planted on alluvial soils.
90% of the production are white, dry, fresh and fruity wines, the reds being light.
Denominations of origin in the wines of the Basque Country and Navarra:
The meaning of 'txakoli' as we know it today it is "farmhouse wine" or "farmhouse wine".
DO GETARIAKO TXAKOLINA (Chacoli from Getaria)
The appellation of origin has existed since 1989. Currently the geographical scope of the appellation of origin Getariako Txakoli It is the historical territory of Guipúzcoa, with 402 hectares of vineyards. The vineyard of the DO Getariako Txacolina it is mostly trellised and 91% is found in coastal areas.
The white grape variety is Hondarribi Zuri, main variety with which the txacoli de Getaria.
DO BIZKARIAKO TXACOLINA (Chacolí of Biscay)
Temperatures are mild in summer thanks to the sea. The climate is of the Atlantic type, humid and temperate. The soils are varied, being generally shallow, slightly acidic and with a clay loam texture, on limestone rock and marl.
The vineyard is present throughout the entire geography of Biscay. You can find plantations both in areas very close to the cost line as in the inland valleys or on mountain slopes of medium altitude, below 400 meters.
The varieties used are, in whites, the Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Zuri Zerratia, and in reds, the Hondarribi Beltza.
DO ARABAKO TXAKOLINA (Chacoli of Alava)
More wines from the Basque Country and Navarra. Appellation of origin Arabako Txacolina was established in 2002 and they are only white wines. The vineyards are greatly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and its climate. The soils are of limestone earth.
They are wines of medium aroma intensity with a predominance of fruity notes and weak floral and herbaceous notes. His taste is slightly acid, fresh and cheerful on the palate. The end of the mouthfeel is moderately persistent, and a certain bitter aftertaste. The authorized white varieties are Hondarribi Zuri, Gross Manseng, Petit Manseng and Petit Corbu.
Navarra wines
This region is to the east of The Rioja and northwest of Aragon.
La DO it is located in Navarresouth of Pamplona and close to the mountain range, its extension is 11.600 hectares and they are cultivated red and white varieties. The white varieties used are Viura, Malvasía and Chardonnay. Inks are mainly the Tempranillo y grenache and to a lesser extent Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Overview of DO Navarra wines
Navarre divide your D.O. in 5 districts. The northern subregions (Tierra Estella, Valdizarbe and Baja Montaña) are colder and fresher than those in the south. They are located up to 560 m of altitude, so the characteristics of their wines vary.
La high riverside, located between the two, it is the largest area, with an intermediate altitude and temperature. Their soils consist of a mixture of sand, clay and alluvial soil on a layer of limestone. Its climate is mainly continental in which the temperature between day and night varies a lot.
La DO Navarra is known for its dry rosé wines made with the Garnacha variety.
As for its red wines, the Garnacha grape generates young varietal wines of great quality. Regarding the aging, the grapes from the vineyards of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are leading to a real breakthrough by creating blends of these three varieties
The white wines are made mostly with the variety Chardonnay (60%) and Viura, both young and old. Some are made sweet Moscatel wines.
So, so are the wines from the Basque Country and Navarra.
