Bodegas Zudugarai - 'Antxiola' - Rosé of Hondarrabi Zuri - Geteriako Txakolina, Basque Country, ES - 2019

VINEYARD
The age range of the vines are 10 - 40 years old. They have 2 hectares near the coast on rolling hills.
ORIENTATION
The vineyards are located at about 90 meters above sea level.
SOIL
Clay based soil.
VITICULTURE
All work in the vineyards is done by hand including harvest. The vines are planted on the sunny sides of the hills to keep them dry and free of rot and fungal diseases.
VINIFICATION
All Hondurrabi Beltza (red grape). Skin maceration for 24 hours. Alcoholic fermentation then takes place in stainless steel with indigenous yeast.
AGING
No aging of the wine. It is bottled while still young to capture some of the natural CO2 left in the wine

Bright, Salmon colour.

Nose: Fresh, with sea saline fragances that melt with wild fruits, smoke and spices.

Palate: Deep and elegant taste. With ripe cherry, strawberry and spices. Juicy and citric. Balanced acidity light like the ocean.
Antxiola pronounced (ahn-cho-la) is a txacoli wine made by Bodegas Zudugarai. The winery was founded in 1989 the same year that the DO of Getaria txakolina was founded. The Errasti family has been growing grapes and making wine from these vineyards for over 40 years working with the local varieties of Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza. The vineyards and winery are near the coast line among rolling hills at about 90 meters above sea level. The sunniest and windiest slopes are the ones planted to vines so that the grapes can get ripe and also remain dry and avoid fungal and rot issues. All work in the vineyards is done by hand including harvest. Fermentation takes place naturally in stainless steel tanks over a period of about 20 days. The wine is then bottled while young to retain some of its natural effervescence.
Besides the delicious and bracing Txacoli, Antxiola also makes a small amount of a fresh, vibrant, pale pink Rosado.

The name Antxiola refers to a famous fortified home in the nearby town of Orio that was part of the walls fortifying the town. A rendering of that home is on the label of this wine. Admiral Antxiola was one of the most famous owners and written records of the house date back to 1555 – but we know the house is older than that.