SPAIN
ARAGÓN, NAVARRA, EUSKADI (TXACOLI)
BODEGA PIRINEOS, SOMONTANO
Bodega Pirineos is part of the Somontano D.O. in Huesca. The Somontano area provides the best possible natural environment for the cultivation of quality grapes. The Bodega is located in Barbastro, on the way to the medieval town of Alquezar. The terraced vineyards blend in with the architectural setting, while at the same time reflecting the viticultural history of the region. The buildings dating from the 1960’s and were home to the to the old Somontano Co-operative, now operate side by side with more functional ones, equipped with the latest technology.
MONTESIERRA WHITE
● White
Ref.: V0000423
Vintage: 2023
Grape Varietals: Macabeo, Chardonnay
MONTESIERRA ROSE
● Rose
Ref.: V0000422
Vintage: 2023
Grape Varietals: Cabernet, Merlot
MONTESIERRA RED
● Red
Ref.: V0000421
Vintage: 2022
Grape Varietals: Tempranillo, Cab Sauvignon
PRINCIPIO MORISTEL
● Red
Ref.: V0004614
Vintage: 2022
Grape Varietals: Moristel
FAMILIA NAVASCUÉS-CUTIO & MAS DE MANCUSO, JORGE NAVASCUÉS, DO CARIÑENA (ARAGÓN)
Coming from the winemaking family Jorge Navascués jokes that the wine is truly part of his DNA. Indeed, his father Jesús Navascués, as well as both grandfathers were well known and respected winemakers. Following in their footsteps Jorge studied enology, subsequently becoming a winemaker at Contino in Rioja Alavesa and working as a consultant for several quality driven ventures (Zorzal in Navarra, Pagos de Galir in Valdeorras to name just few). Quite early on (2002) Jorge also started making his own wine, in 2015 consolidating the project and relocating to the village of Almonacid de la Sierra in DO Cariñena, a place which he considers ideal for making pure, direct wines with varietal and origin expressiveness. Defined by the river Ebro, and the hills of Sierra Algairen in the north part of the region, with altitude of 700m, this is an optimal terroir for sensual old bush vine Garnacha with marked personality, plenty of natural freshness and delicacy. Jorge’s objective is to intervene as little as possible in the winery. The wines are elaborated with full stems in combination of concrete tanks and 500 l. oak barrels. Sierra del Algairen is a village with a lot of heritage, known for its underground cellars dating back to 16th century – providing ideal conditions for ageing. Apart from Garnacha (which is at the top of the podium for Jorge), he also works recuperating old vines of Cariñena and makes white wines with Macabeo.
MAS DE MANCUSO MACABEO
● White
Ref.: V0004979
Vintage: 2019
Grape Varietals: Macabeo
MAS DE MANCUSO CARIÑENA
● Red
Ref.: V0004980
Vintage: 2018
Grape Varietals: Cariñena
LA CALANDRIA – GARNACHA PURA, DO NAVARRA
La Calandria was started in 2008 by three friends who “believe life is too short to drink bad wine”. But that is only one of the reasons which motivated them to embark on the quest for the old plots of vines in Navarra, planted solely to bush vine Garnacha. In the region, where Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate the mainstream industrial wine production, these old, low yielding vines are seen as unprofitable relics of the past, which are systematically uprooted.
SONROJO
● Rose
Ref.: V0001373
Vintage: 2023
Grape Varietals: Garnacha
LA VOLANDERA
● Red
Ref.: V0001374
Vintage: 2022
Grape Varietals: Garnacha
ASEGINOLAZA & LEUNDA, PEDRO M.LEUNDA & JON ASEGINOLAZA, NAVARRA
Our first encounter with Aseginolaza & Leunda wines left us truly impressed. Those are without a doubt some of the most compelling wines to come out of Navarra in recent years and we are thrilled to be able to bring small quantities of them to Ireland.
Pedro M.Leunda and Jon Aseginolaza know each other since their high school years in San Sebastian. They both went on to study biology at University of Navarra in Pamplona. Apart from the academic interests and sensitivity to environmental matters, they also share passion for wine and food culture of the region.
This is why in 2016 they have started a winemaking project focused on a recovery of the old vineyards scattered around the southwestern Navarra. The fruit for their first wine came from a tiny north facing plot of Garnacha named Camino de Santa Zita, in San Martin de Unx. The wine, which was naturally fermented in stainless steel and aged for nine months in old French oak barrels, turned out as a stunning combination of the old vine richness with savoury elegance and layers of complexity. Encouraged by this results the pair continued their exploration of the area taking care of 10 more plots and releasing their first official vintage in 2018. Over the course of just few years, they managed to gain a following among Spanish sommeliers, critiques, and wine lovers. Quite an achievement considering that Pedro and Jon work guided by their intuition, without any external consultancy.
TXURIA
● White
Ref.: V0005171
Vintage: 2022
Grape Varietals: Viura
BIRAK
● Red
Ref.: V0005077
Vintage: 2022
Grape Varietals: Tempranillo, Garnacha
MATSANKO
● Red
Ref.: V0005078
Vintage: 2021
Grape Varietals: Tempranillo, Garnacha
CUVEE
● Red
Ref.: V0005079
Vintage: 2020
Grape Varietals: Tempranillo, Garnacha
CAMINO DE LA TORRAZA
● Red
Ref.: V0005080
Vintage: 2020
Grape Varietals: Mazuelo
TANTAKA WINES, JUANJO TELLAETXE, ARABAKO -TXACOLINA, (ARRASTARIA – ÁLAVA)
Tantaka Wines was created by Juanjo Tellaetxe in his native Artomaña, Valle de Arrastaria (northeast of Alava province, Basque Country), as recently as 2017. Pursuing his dream of making an honest and characterful Txacoli, which stands out in the crowd of commercial wines, Juanjo has started his project with 5 hectares of family vineyards, planted with native varieties: Hondarrabi Zuri, Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratia (Petit Corbou) – for white wines and Hondarrabi Beltza for the red.
As the vineyards always belonged to the family and were never used for commercial production, they are virtually pesticide free and Juanjo intends to keep it that way. Farming is organic and a lot of care goes into working alongside the nature, not against it. We always felt that txakoli can be so much more than just a spritzy “palate cleanser” and Tantaka wines are prove of this! Textural, vintage expressive, vinous and engaging – exactly the kind of wines we find exciting.
TANTAKA
● White
Ref.: V0005183
Vintage: 2022
Grape Varietals: Hondarrabi Zuri
TANTAKA DIAPIRO
● White
Ref.: V0004616
Vintage: 2021
Grape Varietals: Hondarrabi Zuri, Petit Corbou
TXOMIN ETXANIZ, GETARIACO TXACOLINA (EUSKADI)
Txomin Etxaniz, located in the heart of Getaria, has maintained its dedication to cultivating vines and making txakoli for generations. Back in 1649, the Gipuzkoa Protocol Archives mention Domingo’s de Etxaniz involvement in growing the vines in Getaria. Centuries later, the estate has led the way in modernizing the wine production and campaigning for the recognition and creation of Denomination of Origin Getariako Txakolina (1989). Txomin Etxaniz has 35 hectares of protected, sloped vineyards in Getaria, where they grow two native grapes: Hondarrabi Zuri (90%) and Hondarrabi Beltza (10%), which are harvested at the start of October and made into Txakoli the following winter.
TXACOLI TXOMIN ETXANIZ
● White
Ref.: V0000621
Vintage: 2023
Grape Varietals: Hondarrabi Zuri