France Southwest Irouléguy
In the heart of the Basque Irouléguy, in Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, we find Domaine Goienetxea, a small organic and natural wine producer, founded in 1987 by Pantxo Indart. The family originally sold their grapes to the cooperative, but in 2021, Pantxo's son Bixente Indart took the plunge and made his first wine under his own name in the family's old vineyard.
Domaine Goienetxea cultivates a total of 5.3 hectares of vineyards, of which approximately 4 hectares are red plots – Tannat and Cabernet Franc – on terraces in the area called Xingolei (with iron-rich sandstone), and around 1.3 hectares for white wines of Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng on the Malda plot with ophitic soil.
The wines are made as natural wines with great respect for the terroir: the vineyards have been cultivated organically since 2002, the grapes are harvested by hand, and only spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts is used. In the cellar, Bixente works with concrete vats, wooden barrels and amphorae to preserve the purity of the grapes and give the wines structure and energy. Only minimal amounts of sulfur are added during bottling.
Xingolei, a red wine made from Tannat and Cabernet Franc, is juicy, deep and tannic – yet still fresh and precise. Malda is a mineral and vibrant white wine with notes of citrus, herbs and slightly salty acidity – a clear reflection of both the mountain range and the volcanic soil. Both wines show the raw and honest side of Irouléguy.
Domaine Goienetxea is an excellent example of natural wine and organic craftsmanship from the southwest of France. With small plots, local grapes and an uncompromising approach to winemaking, Bixente Indart creates vibrant wines with great personality and deep roots in the Basque terroir.
