2008 Gurrutxaga Txakoli Quick swirl

Have some fun trying to pronounce this one when you walk into a wine shop -- it’s enough to know it’s a Txakoli (chaw-KO-lee) from the Spanish Basque country near Bilbao and that the producer’s name starts with “guru.” Store this away for the next time you play a wine trivia game: The blend is 60% Hondarribi Zuri, 20% Mune Mahatsa and 20% Txori Mahatsa. Not exactly household names.

The current Gurrutxaga vintage is a light, fragrant wine with a snappy acidity and notes of Granny Smith apple and citrus. Low in alcohol (just 10.5%), it also has a slight natural spritz that makes it a perfect hot-weather wine.

Serve it well chilled with oysters on the half shell or a chilled seafood platter. It works with steamed mussels and clams, too, and of course, grilled fish.

--

S. Irene Virbila --

Region: Bizkaiko Txakolina

Price: About $19

Style: Light and crisp

What it goes with: Chilled shellfish, steamed mussels and clams, grilled fish

Where to find it: K&L; Wine Merchants in Hollywood (323) 464-9463, www.klwines.com; Wine Exchange in Orange (714) 974-1454, www.winex.com; and Woodland Hills Wine Company in Woodland Hills (818) 222-1111 www.whwc.com