Hondarrabi Zuri & Zerratia 2024

Located in the heart of the Spanish Basque Country, the Gorka Izagirre vineyard stretches across the verdant hills surrounding the Nervión River valley, not far from Bilbao. The plots, planted on hillsides with clay-limestone and marl soils, benefit from the oceanic influence of the Bay of Biscay, which brings freshness and humidity. This mosaic of microclimates and exposures promotes the slow ripening of the Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Zerratia grapes, preserving the vibrant acidity and precise aromatic expression typical of the Bizkaiko Txakolina appellation.

The Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Zerratia grapes are harvested separately at optimal ripeness, then destemmed and gently pressed. After cold static settling, the must ferments slowly in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve the varietal aromatic expression. The wine is then aged on its fine lees in stainless steel tanks, with periodic pump-overs or lees stirring, until bottling, to retain the freshness, tension, and purity of fruit characteristic of the estate.

This wine reveals notes of fresh citrus , green apple , and crisp pear , complemented by touches of white flowers and a subtly herbaceous dimension. A saline minerality is also perceptible, reminiscent of the maritime influence and adding tension. On the palate, the wine is precise and elegant, supported by a lively yet balanced acidity, with a slightly glycerine texture and a persistent, refreshing, and clean finish marked by a return of citrus and salinity.

The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.