ZUDUGARAI AMATS

The steep, emerald hued hills of Getariako Txakolina, the D.O. for Txakoli produced around the village of Getaria (about 15 miles outside of San Sebastian) form a lovely contrast with stark, simply staked vines, shrouded in a seemingly ever present grey mist. It looks as if you were touring what wine country may look like if wine country existed in Ireland. It is here that Mikel Errasti produces the thirst quenching, slightly fizzy white wines made famous by the dozens of pintxos  bars in San Sebastian. Mikel has about 10 hectares of vines spread amongst six different parcels in the villages ofZarautz and Aia. These are sandy vineyards, a few of them featuring spectacular views of the Cantabrian Sea to the north. You can taste the crisp briny quality in the racy wines Zudugarai produces.