Xarmant Txakoli: It’s a mouthful
Introducing Xarmant Txakoli. It is a bit of a mouthful (but in all the right ways). Don't worry about the pronunciation — you just need to know it's your new go-to weird, wild, and wonderful warm-weather wine this summer.
In Spain's coastal Basque Country, "Xarmant" (char-mant) means charming and Txakoli (chah-kuh-lee) is the joyous, light, white wine shared amongst friends. Xarmant is a different type of wine with a distinctive varietal character and a flicker of carbonation, making it zippy, youthful and fresh-tasting — perfect for summer menus.
Image: Artomaña Txakolina
Xarmant is made from handpicked indigenous grapes fermented in wild yeast. The vines are grown on the 3-generation sustainably farmed estate of Artomaña Txakolina in the lush Amurrio valley in the Basque Country, close to the Bay of Biscay on Spain's rugged, green northern coast.
Xarmant comprises 80% of the indigenous Basque varietal Hondarribi Zuri and 20% Gros Manseng. The variety's intense, fruity aromas are characteristic: hints of peach, apple, and fresh herbs with distinct floral notes. It is soft and light when it first touches the tongue and mouth, with a delicious aftertaste where the acidity emerges into a literal zingy mouthful. Due to its freshness and acidity, it is not only charming but gluggable on its own and is ideal with shellfish and white meats.
