El Pais Vasco (officially La Comunidad Autonoma del País Vasco) is a fiercely independent region located on the northern coast of Spain, close to the Pyrenees and the border with France. In Basque, the region is called Euskadi, but to most of the English-speaking world it is referred to as the Basque Country.
The Cantabrian Mountains form its western boundary, while the renowned wine region of Rioja lies to the south. Despite this, the region is not particularly well known for its wine, although a group of determined wine producers have long battled for recognition. Realistically, it is the historic port city of Bilbao (home to the Guggenheim Museum) and the beautiful seaside resort of San Sebastian that attract visitors to the area.
Pais Vasco wine is synonymous with Txakoli (pronounced "Chac-o-lee"), a style of wine that is intrinsic to the region's wine culture and traditions. This wine is straightforward and uncomplicated. It has a refreshing style with fruit-dominated characters, and can have a slight sparkle as well as high acidity. The traditional way of serving Txakoli is to pour it from a height to increase the fizz and bring out the best in the wine.
The main grape varieties here are Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza, but Bordeleza Zuria (Folle Blanche), Izkiriota Ttipia (Petit Manseng) and Izkiriota (Gros Manseng) are also permitted.
The main geological feature of the Pais Vasco is the Basque mountain range, which runs the length of the region. Most of the vineyards are located near the coast surrounding Bilbao, where the maritime climate is characterized by high rainfall and mild temperatures during the growing season. Further south, toward the Ebro Valley and Rioja, there is less viticulture.
El País Vasco is home to three DOs, Arabako Txakolina, Bizkaiko Txakolina and Getariako Txakolina.
