2021 Inazio Urruzola Blanco Getariako Txakolina Spain 750 ml

An electric streak of acidity. An invigorating effervescence. An underlying minerality. They’re the hallmarks of a perfect food wine—and of Inazio Urruzola’s 2021 Txakolina. Refreshing and radiant, it shows exactly why the estate’s bottles have been poured at restaurants like the two-MICHELIN-starred Boulud and three-starred Azrak. 

Hailing from vineyards just five miles from the coast, Urruzola’s 2021 is quintessential Txakolina—zesty, racy, and deeply refreshing—and features Hondarrabi Zuri, a white grape grown almost exclusively in Spain’s northeastern Basque Country. Expressing the region’s ocean breezes, cool climate, and fresh rains with striking clarity, the wine shows citrus and herbal aromas plus saline-tinged flavors of lime and lemon peel.

Even though Txakolina has been a staple in the region’s homes and pintxos restaurants—and a favorite among sommeliers—most of the production stays in Spain. Even so, the wine world is awakening to its endless charm and drinkability, and producers like Urruzola are getting well-deserved recognition. 

A step onto their property is a step into Basque history.  Established in 1348, Urrozola is still owned by the same family that has stewarded the land for 11 generations. The estate vineyard is farmed sustainably and every block is harvested by hand.

Urrozola occupies the foothills of Mt. Hernio in Getariako, the Basque country’s oldest and easternmost subregion. Near the Pyrenees, these hillside vineyards battle wind and rain, while the elevation—1,200 feet above sea level—helps preserve a buzzing acidity in the grapes.

Urrozola blends 90% Hondarrabi Zuri with 10% Petit Corvou, which adds additional aromatic complexity. The wine then rests for 3–4 weeks on the lees then goes into bottle for four weeks before release. The result is a moderate-alcohol charmer that’s flat-out impossible to put down.