The Spritzy and Effervescent Txakolina

If you are looking for a fresh, bright, and fun wine, look to Txakolina (pronounced “chock-oh-LEE-nah”). It is relatively low in alcohol and refreshingly light. Coming from the Basque region of Spain, it is made from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape and its sparkling essence is a natural occurrence.

The Basque region, which is on the northern rim of Spain near the Bay of Biscay, features cool temperatures and brisk breezes from the coast. This contributes to the higher acidity level of Txakolina. The ocean also plays a role in the flavor profile of the wine, with the salt air delivering the slightest whisper of brininess and minerality. The light carbonation in the wine is the result of natural carbon dioxide gas being present during the fermentation phase.

Featured Wine and Pairing

The Txakolina we opened was from the producer, Hiruzta, which means “three-person harvest” in Basque, a nod to the family owned and operated winery. It has bright, fresh citrus aromas and that classic electric zing on the tongue. The crispness of the wine is followed by the slight salinity mentioned earlier, which acts like a soft contrasting base to show off the bright, sparkling bubbles.

As the wine opened up and the chill began to dissipate, the tart citrus aroma yielded to more sweet tropical notes like pineapple. Given its seaside origination, we paired it with clam linguine, a perfect maritime match.

The good news is that Txakolina is becoming a bit easier to find so check in with your local retailers and if you don’t see it on the shelf, ask and they may be able to order it for you.