Txakoli, pronounced 'cha-koh-lee', is the best summer wine you've likely never heard of. If you could make a wine from Pop Rocks, Txakoli would be it. Produced in Spain’s fiercely independent Basque region, it’s mostly made from (the equally difficult to pronounce) Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza grape varieties. The style is known for being low in alcohol with a slight citrus prickle on the palate. It can come from one of three subregions: Txakoli de Getaria, Txakoli de Bizkaia, and Txakolí de Álava; which is home to the small family owned winery of Señorio de Astobiza. The Astobiza Txakoli comes from the upper reach of the Alava zone at about 650 feet above sea level. Hondarrabi Zuri grapes, making up 90% of the blend, were hand harvested from organically farmed vines. Crackling salty acidity makes this the perfect wine for freshly shucked oysters.
