Wine of the Week 3/29/22

Xirimiri Getariako Txakolina White 2020
Regularly $17.99/On Sale for $14.96

Xirimiri is a Basque word that describes soft little drops of rain, almost like mist. This atmospheric phenomenon is said to be essential to the production of the most renowned of the wines of the Basque country: Txakoli. It’s also the reason that the grapes that go into Txakoli are grown high off the ground in a system called Parra, to avoid the mildew that too much moisture can cause.

The tiny Getariako Txakolina D.O. (only 430 hectares planted, shared by just a little over 30 wineries) was created in 1990, but the wines have become increasingly popular and, unfortunately, increasingly expensive. So when we discover a Txakoli that has the traditional fresh, spritzy, slightly salty, classic character, and is also affordable, we are delighted to share it!

Made from grapes grown on estate vineyards in Hondarribia, a picturesque fishing village in Basque Country, and consisting of 80% of the eponymous Hondarrabi, and 20% clean Chardonnay, the Xirimiri Txakolina Getariako is a little richer and more textured than some due to 10 months of aging on the lees. The wine is stored in tanks at a low temperature while maintaining the naturally occurring carbonation.

Winemaker Maitena Barrero grew up in the vineyards, learning from her father Tony Barrero, one of the winemakers that helped turn the UK into a Spanish wine-loving land when his wines were picked up by the influential wine negociant Tony Laithwaite. Despite the relatively recent creation of the appellations, Txakoli is a very old style, with the first reference to the wine in a document from 1623.

Because we are ALWAYS asked about this, the term Txakolina specifically refers to the wine from one of a few codified regions with Txakolina in their name (like Txakolina Getariako), and Txakoli refers to the wine style in general. Although you will find exceptions. And, despite authoritative statements all over the internet that the name means homemade wine or farm wine or house wine, the true origins of the name and its meaning are lost to time. Just another thing that makes this wine so ethereal. Whatever you call it, it’s incredibly delicious, perfect with seafood or tapas, and on a great deal!