TXAKOLINA – YOUR SIDEKICK THIS SUMMER

Txakolina, or Txakoli (chock-o-lee), is from a special area in the north of Spain, nestled between Bilbao and San Sebastián along the coast. It is arguably the culinary epicenter of the world as it twinkles with Michelin stars and incredible restaurants (Etxebarri, Elkano & Arzak just to name a few). It’s also a region that happens to make some of the most refreshing wines imaginable out of two very hard to pronounce grapes: Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza.

Let’s face it, each and every Summer we all feebly attempt to beat the humidity. The Warmth. The Sun. Those things are all good and fine. But when the air begins to resemble tomato bisque, that’s when you have to get strategic. There is a solution and it comes from the Basque Region.

These wines are a little lower in alcohol, light & bright, with lemony notes, and have a classic little bit of *spritz* that cools you off faster than a misting fan.

 They most commonly come as white and occasionally rosé. Even more rare as a (still) red, white, or a Méthode Champenoise (though these styles are not imported as much and typically have a little higher price .

No longer just a local wine to drink on your vacation, and slowly growing in availability at many quality wine shops between $16-$25/bottle. Great on the beach. Perfect for a park picnic. Just the right perky pick-me-up after a long, hot day. The ultimate humidity fixer.

A few to look out for:

Gañeta | Ameztoi | Rezabal | and OG producer: Txomín Etxaníz (cho-min eh-cha-neez) - but get your hands on any of these tall, usually green glass, thin-necked bottles and you’re probably going to love it.

Spain just got a whole lot closer in one sip.