D.O. Arabako Txakolina

Wine-growing area (Basque txakolina) in the northern Spanish region of the Basque Country north of Rioja and close to the French border. It consists of three parts. These are the DO Chacolí de Alava (Basque Arabako Txakolina), classified as recently as 2001, with 75 hectares, the DO Chacolí de Guetaria (Basque Getariako Txakolina) with 175 hectares and the DO Chacolí de Vizcaya (Basque Bizkaiko Txakolina) with 195 hectares. Before the phylloxera there were over 1,000 hectares of vineyards here. The vineyards on clay, limestone and chalk soil are tiny and widely scattered. There is plenty of rainfall, but also plenty of sunshine, and the vines are trained on pergolas. Over 80% of the white wines are acidic, low-alcohol, naturally carbonated white wines made from Hondarribi Zuri (synonym for several varieties; see Hondarribi Beltza) with small amounts of Petit Manseng, Petit Courbu, Gros Manseng and Folle Blanche. The red wine is produced from Hondarribi Beltza.