We have recently returned from Madrid and every time we go there, we are more and more surprised at how many of Spain's regional wines are available in bars and restaurants around the city. It wasn't always that way.
Txakoli, however, we found just once. It's fairly tough to find anywhere outside of its Basque homeland of Bilbao and San Sebastian's Pintxo bars.
Here at home, it's not much easier to find.
I recently introduced some friends to the delights of this light (10.5% abv) and spritzy white in Jason Atherton's Japanese Farrington restaurant Sosharu. An interesting wine list indeed.
There, the lightness was a perfect follow to the several pre dinner cocktails we had imbibed and, the wine's natural saline notes are a great match for the umami and complexity of the Japanese sharing plates.
Txakoli, however, we found just once. It's fairly tough to find anywhere outside of its Basque homeland of Bilbao and San Sebastian's Pintxo bars.
Here at home, it's not much easier to find.
I recently introduced some friends to the delights of this light (10.5% abv) and spritzy white in Jason Atherton's Japanese Farrington restaurant Sosharu. An interesting wine list indeed.
There, the lightness was a perfect follow to the several pre dinner cocktails we had imbibed and, the wine's natural saline notes are a great match for the umami and complexity of the Japanese sharing plates.
Alaia Txakoli - Marks and Spencer
One of my friends was immediately hooked by this fun wine so I decided to try (to my knowledge) the UK's most widely available version.
M&S may be suffering in lingerie and ladieswear but their wine department goes from strength to strength, with a value and variety proposition almost unsurpassed on the UK high street (so long as you take advantage of the frequent multibuy discount offers - currently 20% off any 3 and 25% off any 6.)
This Alaia (£10) is a relatively simple white; dry, lightly spritzy, with bags of green apple. Great as an aperitif (its lower alcohol won't leave you falling asleep in your main course), with seafood, salads or sushi, or simply, a Sunday jigsaw puzzle while dreaming of brighter days.
M&S may be suffering in lingerie and ladieswear but their wine department goes from strength to strength, with a value and variety proposition almost unsurpassed on the UK high street (so long as you take advantage of the frequent multibuy discount offers - currently 20% off any 3 and 25% off any 6.)
This Alaia (£10) is a relatively simple white; dry, lightly spritzy, with bags of green apple. Great as an aperitif (its lower alcohol won't leave you falling asleep in your main course), with seafood, salads or sushi, or simply, a Sunday jigsaw puzzle while dreaming of brighter days.
Cheers!
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