Balea Txakoli Rosé 2023

Looking for a rosy disposition? Your mood ring will turn all shades of pink after sipping this delectable Basque rosé anywhere where there is water and sunshine. Green pepper upfront, mouthwatering red fruit, rhubarb, strawberry, herbs with a touch of salt, an electric, driving acid that builds into the mid palette, with saline and mineral qualities. Uniquely, it has a light floral sweetness on the finish. Super crisp, zippy and dry, with a subtle spritz. This wine brings beachside vibes. It’s like sitting on a Spanish sea side cliff on a sunny summer day, taking in the contrast of rugged coastline that also manages to be soft and ephemeral.

Brought to you by Lasalde Elkartea, two families joined forces for this classic Txakoli Rosé made in Getaria, a village hotspot for fisherman and whalers to trade daily catch for vino. "Balea" means "whale" in the Basque tongue and celebrates the now bygone whaling tradition of northern Spain, once the economic crux of the region.

One of the original 10 growers to build the Getariako Txakolina DOP in 1990, Lasalde Elkartea is the result of a union of two farms that collaborated for many years before formally blending their operation: Akarregi Txiki and Lasalde. The 17-hectare affair focusing on indigenous Basque varieties is mere miles from the Bay of Biscay and is home to Lurdes Zubizarreta and her son Iker Eizmendi. Lurdes manages the winery and cellar, and Iker has proven his hand in the vineyards (as well as tending their ever-growing flock of sheep).

Their two wines are produced from the local Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza grapes. They are fermented on native yeasts over the course of five months in stainless steel, then aged on their lees. As the wine is not racked, a small amount of CO2 is captured, creating Txakoli's signature refreshing spritz. The Rosé is made of 60% Hondarabbi Zuri and 40% Hondarrabi Beltza.