Bodegas Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina 'Rubentis' Rosé 2025

It's the summer of Txakoli! 

The Ameztoi family has been making Txakoli since 1820. Ignacio is the seventh generation. The winery sits on a hill overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, with vineyards tumbling down toward the water. From up there, the view is ridiculous. Go look at their website. You'll see.

This is Rubentis, Getaria's first rosé, inspired by the historic claret-style wines that were once produced there long before rosé became a global trend. It's a field blend of Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza, the local white and red grapes that have been growing together in these Basque hills for centuries. In the 2000s, when almost all the other local wineries gave up on the red Hondarrabi Beltza vines, the Ameztoi family held on to theirs. Good thing they did! The backbone of this wine comes from an old vineyard planted in 1840 (that's not a typo!) The white and red grapes are worked together, direct pressed, fermented with indigenous yeast in stainless steel at low temp for 20 days, then the tanks are closed to preserve the natural carbonation.

It tastes like strawberries and sea salt, a little citrus zest. The spritz is natural, just leftover fermentation. Six months on the lees with a little stirring gives it texture, something creamy but not sweet.

Drink it cold, with friends, with seafood, with nothing at all.