Alcohol: 11,5%
Grape(s): Hondarrabi Zuri
Localization: San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain
Tasting Notes: A classic txakoli. Fresh and easy to drink that brightens any day of the year. Dry in the beginning, harmonious in the mouth, it has a wide and aromatic end, resulting and cheerful because of its bubbles.
Food pairing: A vibrant and refreshing wine that pairs perfectly with fish and white meat on the grill, all kinds of Seafood and Fish. Excellent with Oysters, Sushi, or Tempura fish.
The Domain: Since 1820 making and producing Txakoli. Old barrels, wood smell, bottle and laugh noises. This was the old Ameztoi and used to welcome many people. In fact, the Ameztoi family is widely known with the nickname "Criquet", a symbol of joy, happiness, and pride.
Over time they have grown and improved their product to achieve their own expression, an authentic txakoli to the delight of the most demanding palates. Always maintaining the indigenous varieties of Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza as the basis of their products. Ameztoi is five generations with the family tradition in the elaboration of Txakoli.
Ameztoi is a long-standing txakoli producer based in the coastal village of Getaria in the province of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country). Five generations of the Ameztoi family have tended vines and made wines in the area.
They own 40 hectares of vineyards and rent an additional 10 hectares. Most of the plots enjoy fabulous sea views framed against the picturesque fishing village of Getaria. Two indigenous grape varieties are grown: the white Hondarrabi Zuri and the red Hondarrabi Beltza (zuri means white in Basque and beltza is red).
Ameztoi has developed its own selection of yeasts. The style of the wines is in line with the majority in the DO Getariako Txakolina —low alcohol (usually between 10,5% and 11,5% vol.) with petillance, in contrast with txakoli from the neighboring provinces of Bizkaia and Álava, with barely a trace of carbon dioxide. Ameztoi keeps wines in hermetically sealed stainless steel tanks at 7ºC all year long to preserve the spritz.
Beyond the traditional styles, the winery produces an oak-aged txakoli, Kirikilla Ameztoi (around €13), as well as a low alcohol white called Ameztoi 9.6, which we found of little interest given the presence of residual sugar.
The most original wine in the range is probably the rosé Ameztoi Rubentis (100,000 bottles, €8), with equal parts of Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza that are blended at the beginning of the winemaking process. Bunches undergo a short maceration before they are pressed. The wine displays the slightly wild, lively character of the red Hondarrabi Beltza variety. There is also the single-varietal red Ameztoi Stimatum. It is produced in very small quantities and most bottles are sold in the US.
