TxominEtxaniz 2004 Getariako

Don't ask me to say the name, but this zippy little white wine from The Spanish Basque country is a great pick me up, especially if you drink it before it looses its delightful frizzy edge.

The wine is called chacoli, or Txakoli in Basque, and is produced in one of three regions in that area, namely, Arabako, Bizkaiko, and Getariako Txakolina. The latter is considered the best region for growing the grape for this wine called Hondarribi Zuri. This is essentially a 'green wine' similar to vinho verde in Portugal, in which the grapes are picked while still high in malic acid.

This is a bright, zippy, tart wine with a hint of floral and citrus on the nose. It is slightly prickly on the palate with great acidity and flavors of green apples. The wine is tailor made to go with seafood and shellfish. I enjoyed it with light appetizers and then with swordfish and asparagus risotto.