Txomin Etxaniz
Even amongst wine lovers, few people are familiar with the northern Spanish DO of Getaria Txakolina, home to unpronounceable wines and grape varieties unlike any others. Most Txakoli wine is sold within a few miles of where it is made, with its fresh zippy acidity and lower alcohol making it the perfect partner for the amazing seafood caught along the Basque coast.
The oldest known winemakers in the area, the Tueka-Etxaniz family has been making wine here since 1649, tending impossibly beautiful vineyards that slope majestically down towards the sea. Today it is still very much a family affair, with 13 of the 16 employees being family members.
Ondarrabi Zuri and Ondarrabi Beltza vines are trained high on trellises to improve airflow in this cool, damp area, characterised by high rainfall and sea mists. The wines are kept on lees until bottling and keep a slight spritz, enhanced by the tradition of pouring with a flourish from a height through the traditional ‘escanciador’.
