País Vasco (Euskadi)

Wine-growing region (Basque: Txakolina) in the Basque region in northern Spain, north of Rioja and close to the border with France. It consists of three sections. These are the DO Chacolí de Alava (Basque: Arabako Txakolina, only classified in 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 190 hectares. Before the phylloxera infestation, the vineyard area was in excess of 1.000 hectares. The soils are clay and rich in limestone, the parcels are tiny and widely spread. There is ample rainfall, but also plenty of sunshine, and vines are trellised on a pergola system. 85% of production is of a tart white wine that is low in alcohol and has natural carbon dioxide, made from the indigenous variety Ondarrabi Zuri, with the addition of some Petit Manseng, Petit Corbu, Gros Manseng and Folle Blanche. The red version is made from the indigenous variety Ondarrabi Beltza.