Txakoli de Álava (Basque) or Chacolí de Álava (Spanish) is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) (Basque: Jatorri Deitura Babestua) for wines, located around the towns of Amurrio, Llodio, Artziniega, Okondo and Aiara in the province of Álava, Basque Country, Spain.
| Wine region | |
 Arabako Txakolina-Txakolí de Álava-Chacolí de Álava DOP in the province of Álava in the region of Basque Country | |
| Official name | D.O.P. Arabako Txakolina-Txakolí de Álava-Chacolí de Álava[1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) |
| Year established | 2002 |
| Country | Spain |
| No. of vineyards | 95 hectares (235 acres) |
| No. of wineries | 6[2] |
| Wine produced | 4,592 hectolitres |
| Comments | Data for 2016 / 2017 |
Txacolí is a thin white acidic wine that can be naturally fizzy and is traditionally served like cider, poured from a height into the glass.
History edit
This DOP was created in 1989 on the initiative of the five remaining txacolí producers in the province. In that year there were only 5 ha under vines producing txacolí. However, wine had traditionally been made in this manner for hundreds of years and was popular from the Middle Ages up to the end of the 19th century, when the vines were devastated by the phylloxera and the effects of industrialization of the Basque Country.
Climate edit
- Maximum mean temperature: 18.7 °C
- Minimum mean temperature: 7.5 °C
- Mean temperature: 13.1 °C
- Mean annual rainfall: 900 l
Authorised Grape Varieties edit
The authorised grape varieties are:
- Red: Ondarribi Beltza
- White: Hondarrabi Zuri, Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, Petit Courbu, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay
Almost all the vines are trained on trellises (en espaldera) due to the high levels of rainfall and humidity in the area.
Vineyards edit
- There are 60 ha of vineyards registered with the D.O.
- Maximum authorized planting density: 2,500 to 3,500 vines/ha
- Maximum authorized yield: 12,500 hg/ha
- Minimum alcohol content: 9.5º%
References edit
- ^ "Denominación de Origen Protegida "Arabako Txakolina-Txakolí de Álava-Chacolí de Álava"". Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ "Denominación de origen del Txakoli de Álava - Jatorrizko izena Arabako Txakolina". www.txakolidealava.com. Retrieved 18 January 2020.