Winemaker Notes
The iconic Ameztoi Rubentis rosé is a field blend of the local, indigenous Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza varieties, grown on traditional trellises high on the slopes rising above Getaria, an ancient Basque fishing village on Spain's rugged northern coast. In the 2000s, when almost all of the other local wineries gave up on the indigenous red Hondarrabi Beltza vines, the Ameztoi family retained their old vines, in turn, lending their rosé such exceptional vibrancy and complexity.
Blend: 50% Hondarrabi Beltza, 50% Hondarrabi Zuri
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
A lip-smacking rose, with a minerally overtone of stone and flint layered with flavors of watermelon, orange sorbet, fresh basil and milled white pepper. Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza. Drink now.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
On the southern edge of the rocky Bay of Biscay in northern Spain, this is Basque country and home to the refreshing and slightly effervescent (usually) white wine, Txakoli. Three subregions compose the larger one: Getariako Txakolina, Bizkaiko Txakolina and Arabako Txakolina. While Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza are the main grape varieties, other French varieties are scattered throughout the region.