Uriondo "Txakolina" Basque Country, Spain 2024

FROM DE MAISON:

THE WINE: 60% Hondarrabi Zuri / 19% Mune Mahatsa / 11% Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratia / 10% Txori Mahatsa. After hand harvesting, the grapes are destemmed and undergo a brief two-hour skin maceration. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks at 12°C to 16°C. Following the tradition of the Bizkaiko Txakolina region, Uriondo’s txakolina is a still white wine and bottled without residual carbonic gas. The wines are cold stabilized.

THE PRODUCER: Uriondo is a small family winery founded in 1987 by Roberto Ibarretxe, located near the port city of Bilbao in the tiny Basque village of Zaratamo. Roberto was a psychology professor in Bilbao and his brother an engineer; both now work at the winery. They planted the first vines in the area in 1982 on their parent’s dairy farm. Uriondo, named after their neighborhood, is the oldest winery in the region and was one of three original pioneers in the revival of txakolina production near Bilbao, with the creation of the Bizkaiko Txakolina DO in 1994. Prior to that, the txakolina discipline was nearly lost in the area, with many vineyards given over to the construction of seaside homes. Their goal has always been to rejuvenate the tradition of txakolina and honor its contribution to the gastronomic and cultural history of their village with their indigenous grapes. In this respect, Roberto has been a pioneer. Uriondo, consisting of one tiny single vineyard (2.5 hectares), is situated at an altitude of 175 meters with a southeasterly exposure, in the countryside. This vineyard, heavily influenced by the Atlantic climate, is predominantly clay/sand mixture allowing for good retention of nutrients. Their mission was to do the best viticulture by keeping everything.