TXAKOLI   AMUNATEGI

The Txakoli Amunategi belongs to the Bizkaiko Txakolina Designation of Origin, and originates from the family farmhouse of the same name, located in a dominant position on the San Bartolome valley in the municipality of Busturia (Bizkaia).

For centuries, generation after generation, at Amunategi farmhouse we have made txakoli in a traditional way, although the oldest written reference that relates this activity corresponds to the year 1812.

The Txakoli Amunategi winery is in a building next to the Amunategi Mayor farmhouse. It was built to carry out the work of the farmhouse cellar in 1849. At the beginning of the 2000s, the cellar was rehabilitated to house more modern facilities, although the traditional typology of the building was preserved. The current modern facilities are entirely made of stainless steel, with automatic temperature control and inerting systems. At Amunategi winery we have a direct sales service for txakoli, in boxes of 3 and 12 bottles.

THE LEGEND OF THE FIRST LORD OF BIZKAIA: JAUN ZURIA (The White Lord)

"A legitimate daughter of the King of Scotland arrived at the Mundaka estuary (today Urdaibai) in a ship, and that several men and women came with her, and that the princess with part of her entourage stayed, and that the ships returned to Scotland".

The princess conceived a son: "Jaun Zuria", who after the battle of Arrigorriaga, the Biscayans named him "First Lord of Biscay", according to Alberto Santana in "Myths and Legends of the time when the Basques lived on backs to the sea", in "A history of Vasconia". (watch video)

"When the ships arrived at the Mundaka estuary, they made 'aguada' (fresh water) in San Pedro cave, next to the church of Santa Maria de Axpe, in the town of Busturia".

The circumstance occurs that the waters that bathe and drain the current Txakoli Amunategi vineyards infiltrate forming an underground river, which runs through the interior of Mount "Atxapunte" and appears at the source of the San Pedro cave.

Going back in the story, we can establish a relationship between the "aguada" and the waters and soils of the San Bartolome neighborhood, and, more specifically, with current Txakoli Amunategi vineyards.

A map of the underground river is attached, specifying the drainage area (vineyards), and the exit point in the cave of San Pedro.

"It is a txakoli that enters the section of Bereziak in the new regulation of the DO Bizkaiko Txakolina, since it has 8 months of aging on its lees (to be Bereziak must have more than 5 months on his lees).

A wine with a pale yellow color and greenish reflections, clean and bright.

Medium high aromatic intensity with notes of white fruit such as apple and pear conference, lactic notes where pear yogurts peek, aromatic, floral grass, very pleasant. A very special nose, nice, clean and fresh.

Entry in mouth light with a step with enough body despite its low alcohol (it is a wine with 12 degrees), and a long finish, very pleasant, round, with personality and also with that lemony finish, which I loved. A txakoli that when you taste it you realize that it is different.

A txakoli that has a very long life, so I’ll save some bottles."