red grape · rare
Hondarrabi Beltza
Basque Country, Spain
Say it
on·dah·rah·beebelt·sah
H is silent in standard Basque; beltza means 'black'; stress falls on third syllable of Hondarrabi
On the palate
raspberryred cherrycranberryblack pepperfennelwet stone
How you spot it blind: high-acid saline coastal red; sole authorized red grape in Getariako Txakolina
The story
2009 DNA analysis confirmed a parent-offspring relationship with Cabernet Franc, and identified Gros Cabernet as a descendant of Hondarrabi Beltza crossed with Fer.
Where it lives
Getariako Txakolina · Bizkaiko Txakolina · Arabako Txakolina
Shows up as
still redrosésparkling
If you like this, try
Also answers to Hondarribi Beltza.
Shop our Hondarrabi Beltza bottles