Txakoli de Álava


Txakoli de Álava or Chacolí de Álava is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida for wines, located around the towns of Amurrio, Llodio, Artziniega, Okondo and Aiara in the province of Álava, Basque Country, Spain.
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

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 virus and the effects of industrialization of the Basque Country.

Climate

The authorised grape varieties are:

Almost all the vines are trained on trellises due to the high levels of rainfall and humidity in the area.

Vineyards