Hotel Nafarrola - Gastronomy & Wine

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• Mar

  8
  

  The Txakoli festival

  Next March 19, San José is celebrated. In Bakio, a few kilometers from Bermeo, the most important Txakoli fair in Bizkaia takes place on March 17. We tell you a little history and learn about the origin of Txakoli and we invite you to visit us on these designated dates. We will be there.

  The first references found date back to the 9th century, where there was already talk of viticultural practice in Basque lands. Already in the 12th and 13th centuries the production of txakolí was common in many parts of the territory.
  
  No matter how widespread it was, the production of txakolí focused on self-sufficiency in baserris or farmhouses, where it was made by hand. Hence its etymological origin: it is believed that txakoli comes from the Basque words "etxeako hain" (enough or just enough for home).
  
  At times it was even bartered between neighborhoods or drunk by sailors and sailors. Even the vines were supported with pergolas made of whale bones captured by Basque whalers.
  
  At the end of the 19th century, the 'chacolines' emerged, taverns with a popular atmosphere that exclusively served local txakolí, accompanied by dishes of cod, squid or elvers.
  
  After this brief heyday, at the beginning of the 20th century practically all the vineyards disappeared, due to competition from foreign wines, the rural exodus caused by industrialization and various pests such as phylloxera, mildew or powdery mildew.
  
  It was at the end of the 80s, when small winegrowers began to join forces to recover the cultivation of the local grape variety Hondarrabi Zubi and Hondarrabi Beltza, and revitalize the sector.
  
  As a result of the work that has been carried out over the last two decades under the protection of three Designations of Origin .–, and – txakolí has become very popular, even at an international level, where Basque txakolí is widely recognized for its particularity, typicity, character and freshness. And the basis of all this has been, and continues to be, the balance between tradition, research, qualification and innovation.
  
  After more than a year of work in collaboration with the Bakio and Urdaibai wineries, the Nafarrola Hotel inaugurates a menu of 25 Txakolis from Bizkaia in which you can identify very nuanced elaborations that reflect the richness of a type of lively, cheerful and in constant evolution.
  SOURCE: BasqueWines.

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• Feb

  26
  

  The tour: Katillotxu

  Today we present a plan that we love: Katillotxu, a beautiful peak.

  And Katillotxu is decked out in green to welcome its visitors. In the west you can see the slopes of pastures with cows that graze pleasantly and that allow us to avoid them without risks, making us feel a calm respect. Towards the east we find oak and pine forests that hide the beauty of the sea as if it were a lace veil.
  
  Katillotxu is a small summit of 336m. which has a magnificent dolmen complex. It is a strategic point to see the top of Sollube and the sea. A valuable intermediate point in ancient times and precious today. Lovers of mushrooms, mountains and bicycles succumb to its charms.
  
  Impossible to get lost to reach it. A must for nature lovers. From there it is possible to walk to Mundaka, Bermeo, Pedernales or Busturia. And the 360º views show that there is a lot to discover.
  
  Our guests often have picnics there. Special experiences. The shadows that rise around its perimeter house secret places. Private places. Unique places. Finding them and making them yours is our invitation.

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• Feb

  12
  

  Valentine's Day

  This is a true story. Incredible but real. They say that Valentine's Day is to celebrate, if you are lucky to be able to do so of course. Sometimes you can't do it with all the desire in the world.

  We know a person who every time Valentine's Day arrived he got into trouble. He didn't know what to give to his partner. It happens to many of us, yes. This is not strange, unfortunately. We tell you his story:
  
  There was a year when this person gave a manicure kit to his partner on Valentine's Day. It will be a better or worse gift. More or less romantic. More less than more. But it's a gift. And the day went well.
  
  The following year (the second), lacking ideas and memory, he again gave a manicure kit to his partner. Also on Valentine's Day. Yes. It could be the case that she needed the "manicure kit"... But that wasn't the case. So it was a MISTAKE. We don't know how it ended.
  
  The third year in a row, this person was wrong again. Once again the "manicure kit" was the object of a Valentine's Day gift. A complete FAIL. If we made a short film we would call it Courage on Valentine's Day. We can say that Cupid's arrows pierced bone.
  
  Today this person is still married. It's not that details are his strong suit. They are still happy.
  
  And we congratulate ourselves because love is stronger than all mistakes.
  
  At Nafarrola we try to do everything with love. We love seeing happiness among our guests. Happy to come, happy to leave, happy to return.
  
  On these Valentine's Day dates we try not to make mistakes with the gift. Because happiness is worth it.
  
  Have a happy Valentine's Day.

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• Feb

  6
  

  A different point of view

  Get surprised is the goal. We think of exotic places and experiences. Always searching... and sometimes what we know offers us the magic of the unknown.

  There are many of us who want to discover a different plan. Is what we have close to us or what we experience on a daily basis valued? We think so, but maybe less and less? It's not easy to always get it right.
  
  It is true that when we think we know something in depth, changing points of view or nuances, it can surprise us.
  
  We discovered Nafarrola after having passed by this place for years. We did not pay attention to knowing its previous inhabitants, to walking through this mountain. And we know practically every corner of our town.
  
  We knew that the original farmhouse was for sale. But we never saw it as an option. Gaizka saw it with different eyes and we decided to come see it.
  
  When we first arrived, we were surprised by the views. We saw that the view can be lost in the sea. And after sitting on the terrace that was then under the cherry tree and next to the grill, we felt a calm that fooled us. We saw an immense farmhouse with its wooden framework that went up from the stable to the roof. We walked through the adjacent woods. We discovered the river, its paths, the garden and the fruit trees. We walked for an hour in which we wanted to get lost and we ended up finding a hidden, wild beauty that took us to another planet. We didn't believe we were in our town.
  
  And so, discovering these details and seeing the sensations it provoked in us, we decided to enter Nafarrola. Having dedicated time to knowing the details and nuances of this magical place was key. We could never have decided to embark on this adventure without this fact that made the difference.
  
  Today is the day we invite our guests to discover Nafarrola. The ancient oaks, the forest and the river. And may they walk up the mountain to find a beauty that is not available elsewhere.

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• Jan

  6
  

  New year, new life?

  We do not sell gyms. Nor miracle diets to remove the kilos that Christmas has brought us. Not even anti-smoking remedies or all the media shrapnel that we can see on TV these days.

  We sell happiness. Yes, happiness. And we don't want it to change. We want to continue seeing the happy faces of our guests. If anything, we may want to make them happier if possible, but we don't want to change.
  
  Last year we opened ROLA, our private restaurant. Those of you who have tried it know what I'm talking about. We installed a Bikestation with all the necessary equipment for bicycle lovers, we even have two electric bikes to enjoy. We built our beautiful winery, and filled it with more than 150 wine references and more than 25 Txakoli references from Bizkaia. And we also prepared an event area in which we held weddings that have made history.
  
  And winter has arrived and we have to continue laying the new foundations of that happiness that we sell. Because at Nafarrola we build happiness. And now it's time to materialize the ideas accumulated during the year. We have to improve and we have to innovate
  
  Trees, animals, everything in nature tends to its lowest energy state in the winter. It reserves. It recovers. We also. We prepare for the year at hand. And it's exciting. We love.
  
  This new year we are going to implement some changes that we will tell you about little by little. Better experiences, new collaborators and surprises. And we will make the pleasure of relaxation, of doing what you want, continue to be the basis of our guests' happiness.
  
  We want to continue seeing you. Happy, as always.
  
  Welcome to 2024.

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• Dec

  28
  

  Merry Christmas

  We wish you the best 2024.

  One more year.
  
  This has been a year with love, health and work.
  And although there are difficult days, it has been a good year.
  We are lucky.
  We're happy.
  
  Enjoy the family. Enjoy your friends. Enjoy the couple. Enjoy yourself.
  And do it consciously. Delight yourselves.
  Eat and drink what you like.
  But above all, enjoy.
  
  We wish you well.
  We wish you well.
  We wish you #livingnafarrola.
  
  Happy holidays, and happy 2024.

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• Dec

  11
  

  Create. Beauty.

  When we began to design the idea of working and enjoying our life in a hotel, we never thought about many of the things that have happened to us in these years of preparations. One of the most special has been meeting Vicente, our fellow potter and ceramic designer. Vicente is now from Bermeo, although he was born in Ciudad Real. Fate made Bermeo attract him.

  When we began to design the idea of working and enjoying our life in a hotel, we never thought about many of the things that have happened to us in these years of preparations and journeys. One of the most special has been meeting Vicente, our fellow potter and ceramic designer. Vicente is now from Bermeo, although he was born in Ciudad Real. Fate made Bermeo attract him.
  
  Vicente makes his creations very close to the Nafarrola Hotel, just a kilometer away, in a place with character, tranquility that is truely real. We love visiting you. The magic of his habitat seduces us. Creativity and methodology. Craft is the word, purity the result.
  
  If you are lucky enough to know him, you will perceive from his words the tranquility and wisdom that underpin his creations. Pause molded with touch and touch molded with pause. A symbiosis that bears fruit in beauty.
  
  You can find it whenever you visit us, whether in his creation space or here at the Nafarrola Hotel through his creations. Every Christmas period he usually establishes a point of sale in the market of artisan creators in Bilbao's "Arenal" area. We were very lucky to cross his path, we hope you can find him too.
  
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicente__al

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• Nov

  30
  

  The Place: Matxitxako

  Matxitxako is a synonym for strength. A resounding and wild place that reveals stories of Land and Sea, of lights and shadows and a place where one feels so small as to be able to get lost and find oneself.

  When people who visit us begin to plan their trip and the activities they want to do to get to know our region, many make San Juan de Gaztelugatxe an obligatory stop. And Matxitxako, which combs the wildest winds of the Basque coast just a few kilometers away, is usually relegated to the chance of finding it.
  
  Matxitxako is the northernmost point of the Basque coast. A magical place, with tragic stories such as the civil war battle that bears its name and a place with wonderful views that can be enjoyed when the weather is good, being able to see Iparralde or the island of Santa Clara de San Sebastián itself.
  
  A place subjected to the scourge of storms and where the force of nature makes you feel small observing the immensity of the sea.
  This is a place where from spring to autumn many people gather every afternoon to observe one of the most magical sunsets in the area next to the Akatz Rock and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.
  
  It is a cape with two lighthouses, the old one converted into a cetacean observatory, and the one that currently functions as such, maintaining the safety of ships that cross the Bay of Biscay. Whoever doesn't move and seems to be playing mus with Matxitxako as if it were a game between old sea dogs, is the La Gaviota platform, which you will remember from your time at the hotel. Matxitxako is the closest point with solid ground from which you can observe the size of La Gaviota.
  
  Matxitxako, like Bermeo, is a point on the map where it seems that the paths that lead us to it end there. But no... they are just the beginning of a great plan.

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• Nov

  20
  

  Welcome to our blog

  Finally, we are ready to share with you our secret: the #livingnafarrola lifestyle. We will show you the plans, the places, the people and the ideas and projects we work on and collaborate with... It will be a pleasure for us to share them with you.