🇪🇸SPAIN–Basque Country

BASQUE COUNTRY IS–  DO.- 3     VT.- 2     @Bilboa

  • BLANCO= Albillo Major, Hondarribi Zuri AKA=Petite Courbu, Godello, Izkiriota AKA=Gros Manseng, Malvasia, Mune Mahatsa AKA=Folle Blanche, Petit Manseng, Picapoll, Verdejo
    • –International– Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
  • TINTO= Hondarribi Belza, Verdejo Negro

GEOGRAPHY– Spain(North), REGION-Euskadi, LATITUDE: 45° ‘N’

  • BORDERS-Castilla y Leon“Region”(South-West), Ebro River(South)
  • PROVINCES-Vizcaya(North-West), Gipuzkoa(North-East), Alava(South)
  • Sub-Zones/ DO.’s– Arabako Txakolina DO., Bizkaido Txakolina DO., Getariako Txakolina DO.
    • Durangaldea(Duranguesado), Enkarterri(La Encartaciones)
  • AKA= “Basque Country”, 75% of Which Lies In Spain, the Other 25% In France.
  • “Green Spain/Espana Verde”, Cantabria & Pais Vasco Along With Galicia and Asturias.

TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

  • SLOPES/ Cordillera Cantabrica(Montes Vascos), +Alt. 20mt.-33mt.
  • On~Coast/ Cantabrian Sea/ Bay~Biscay~/ On~Urola/ Oria~Rivers~
  • BASINS/ Atlantic(Northern Coast), Ebro River(Southern Interior)

SOILS– “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Clay-Loam Over Marl Bedrock, Sandy, Alluvial Clay, Limestone

CLIMATE– “Maritime”, With “Continental” Influences Inland

  • *Summers– Warm, Humid   |   *Winters– Cold/ Wet

VITICULTURE– ~Basque “Flute” Bottle~ SHAPE– Tall/ Flute Like, Slender/ Rounded

VINICULTURE– 

  • Cooler Growing Conditions Usually Leave the Finished Wine Between 8% – 11% ABV.
  • White Wine Usually Produced With Slight Fizz/ Residual Co2.
  • Whites Are Generally Produced to Be Drunk Young.

CULTURE– “Txakoli”… +Pronounced…“Chak-ko-lee”

  • BASQUE COUNTRY– AKA=Pais Vasco(Spanish), Euskadi(Basque)
    • Euskera- The Language of the Basque.
  • GASTRONOMY…“Basque Cuisine”, Pintxos(Local Basque Version of Tapas)
    • Lamb Stew, Tolosa, White Tuna, Anchovies, Suckling Pig, Peas, Beans(Tolosa)
    • La Gilda Pintxo(Manzanilla Olives and Anchovies)
    • CHEESE… Idiazabal(Sheep/ Hard)
  • Porron- Traditional Basque Wine Pitcher/ Decanter (25 oz.-  34 oz. In Size) Used to Store and Server Wine.  Porron Have a unique Design and Using One is and Form of Art.
    • High Pour- Pouring Wine From a Arm’s Height Into a Flat Bottom Tumbler to Aerate the Wine and Release Its Aromas.

**Refer to “SPAIN/ Home” For Detailed Information On Spain as a Country.

**Basque Country, Courtesy of Delong Maps, Purchase These Maps at Delongwine.com

BIZKAIKO TXAKOLINA DO.     @Bilbao, Getxo

  • BLANCO= Hondarribi Zuri 40%, Albillo Major, Gros Manseng, Folle Blanche, Pitit Manseng
  • TINTO= Hondarribi Beltza
  • GEOGRAPHY- Spain, REGION-Euskadi/ “Basque Country”(North-Interior), PROVINCES-Vizcaya
    • VILLAGES-Duranguesado, Encartaciones, Lea-Artibai, Nervion, Uribe, Urdaibai
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, SLOPES/ Montes Vascos, +Alt. 50mt.- 200mt.
    • On~Coast/ Bay~Biscay~/ On~Nervion~River~
  • VITICULTURE- 395 ha. Planted, (99% White/ 1% Red)
    • Estate/ Producers- Berroja, Bidaia, Doniene Gorrondona, Elizalde, Gorka Izaguirre, Itsasmendi, Rezabal, Uriondo
    • Vineyards- Urizar
  • CULTURE- AKA=Chacoli de Vizcaya
    • 1994- DO. Officially Established
    • ASSOCIATIONS– ~Txakoli Winemakers~

ARABAKO TXAKOLINA DO.     @Amurrio, Zalla

  • BLANCO= Hondarribi Zuri 35%, Albillo Major, Gros Manseng, Petit Courbu, Petit Manseng
    • –International– Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
  • TINTO= Hondarribi Beltza
  • GEOGRAPHY- Spain, REGION-Euskadi/ “Basque Country”(North-Central), PROVINCES-Vizcaya
    • VILLAGES-Aiara, Amurrio, Artziniega, Llodio, Okondo
  • TOPOGRPAHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, SLOPES/ Montes Vascos, +Alt. 10 mt.-200mt.
    • On~Coast/ Bay~Biscay~
  • VITICULTURE- 101 ha. Planted, (94% White/ 6% Red)
    • Estate/ Producers- Astobiza, Goianea, Senorio de Astobiza, Tentenublo, Valle del Agua
  • HISTORY & CULTURE- AKA=Chacoli de Alava
    • 2001- DO. Officially Established.

GETARIAKO TXAKOLINA DO.     @Getaria, Zarautz

  • BLANCO= Hondarribi Zuri 40%, Albillo Major, Gros Manseng
  • TINTO= Hondarribi Belza
  • GEOGRAPHY- Spain, REGION-Euskadi/ “Basque Country”(East), PROVINCES-Vizcaya
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ Montes Vascos, +Alt.200 mt.
    • On~Coast/ Bay~Biscay~/ On~Urola/ Oria~Rivers~
  • VITICULTURE- 400 ha. Planted, (93% White/ 7% Red)
    • Estate/ Producers- Adur, Agerre, Aizpurua. B, Arregi, Ameztoi Rubentis, Basa Lore, Bengoetxe, Eizaguirre, Erekalde, Etxetxo, Flysch, Gaintza, Ganeta, Hiruzta, Hkarregi Txiki, K5, Kataide, Mokoroa, Rezabal, Sagarmina, Santarba, Txomin Etxaniz, Ulacia, Upaingoa, Urruzola, Zudugaria
  • VINICULTURE- Bianco(Hondarribi Zurz 80%-90%)
  • CULTURE & HISTORY- AKA=Chacoli de Guetaria
    • 1989- DO. Officially Established

RIOJA ALAVESA     @Laguardia

  • GEOGRAPHY- Spain, REGION-Euskadi, “Basque Country”/ Rioja(North-Central)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Ebro~Rio~(North), +Alt.400mt.-600mt.
    • “Non-Contiguous”
  • SOILS- Chalk, Iron Rich Clay
  • CLIMATE- “Continental” With “Mediterranean” Influence
    • Cooler, Wetter Than Alta & Baja Rioja
  • VITICULTURE-  ?  ha. Planted
  • VINICULTURE- +Quality,  *Small Growers
    • Estate/ Producer- Altanza(160ha.), Artuke, Baron de Ley(600ha.), Contino, Faustino(650ha.), Marques de Riscal(540ha.), Olabarri, Remelluri, Remirez de Ganuza, Telmo Rodriguez, Vinedos de Paganos, Torre de Ona, Ygay, Ysios
    • Vineyards- Corrales, Labastida
  • CULTURE-
    • GEOGRAPHIC/ CULTURAL DISCLAIMER~“Some Consider Rioja Alavesa Part of Basque County and Not Rioja.  In Regards to Its Wine Culture it Has More In Common With Rioja, With Altitude and Climate It’s More Similar to Basque Country.”
  • BLANCO= Any White Grapes Varieties Approved For Production In Basque Country.
  • TINTO= Any Red Grapes Varieties Approved For Production In Basque Country.
  • VITICULTURE- Wines Produced In “BASQUE COUNTRY” Non-Conforming to a DO.

🇪🇸SPAIN–Asturias & Cantabria

  • GEOGRAPHIC/ DISCLAIMER~“Asturias & Cantabria Are Separate Regions and Not Technically Part of the Basque Country. I Located Them Here Because of the Simularities In Geography, Topography and Culture.”
  • GEOGRAPHY- Spain(North-West), REGION-Asturias, PROVINCES– ?
    • “Green Spain/Espana Verde”, Asturias Along With Galicia, Cantabria & Pais Vasco.

Vino de la Tierra’s of Asturias

CANGAS VT.     @Cangas del Narcea

  • BLANCO= Albarin Blanco, Albillo, Picapoll
  • TINTO= Albarin Negro, Garnacha, Mencia, Verdego Negro, Carrasquin
  • GEOGRAPHY- Spain(North-West), REGION-Asturias(South-West), PROVINCES–
    • MUNICIPALITIES-Cangas del Narcea, Alande, Grandas de Salime, Illano, Pesoz, Ibias
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ Cantabrian Range, +Alt.400mt.-700mt., On~Navia~River~
  • VITICULTURE- 1,351 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Monasterio, Vidas(Vinos de Asturias)
  • CULTURE- 2008- VT. Officially Established.

Vino de la Tierra of Cantabria

COSTA De CANTABRIA VT.      @

  • BLANCO= Albarino, Albillo, Albarin, Godello, Malvasia, Ondarrabi Zuri, Palomino, Picapoll, Verdejo
    • –International– Chardonnay, Gewuztraminer, Riesling
  • RED= Albarin Tinto, Garnacha, Garnacha Tintorera, Mencia, Merenzao, Ondarrabi Belza, Verdejo Negro
  • GEOGRAPHY- Spain(North), Cantabria, PROVINCES-Cantabria, On~Coast/ Bay~Bicay~
    • MUNICIPALITIES- Barcena de Cicero, Esles, Valle de Villaverde, Vidular
  • TOPOGRAPHY- SLOPES/ Cantabrian Mountains/ Picos de Europa Range, +Alt. 500mt.
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, Pizarra(Slate)
  • VITICULTURE- 
    • Estate/ Producers- Nates, Orulisa, Vidular Ribera Ason
  • CULTURE- 2008- VT. Officially Established.

LIEBANA VT.     @

  • GEOGRAPHY- Spain(North),PROVINCES-Cantabria
    • On~Coast/ Bay~Bicay~
  • VITICULTURE- 
    • Estate/ Producers- Goyo
  • CULTURE- 2008- VT. Officially Established.

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.