It’s always nice to be able to spend a few days relaxing in Iparralde, and even better when you discover some interesting local initiatives. And so it was that in the small town of Senpere, better known for Herri Urrats that I came across Mahatsa wine cellar. Always on the lookout for good organic wine I noticed bottles of beer called “Sorioneku» in the window display. The word “Sorioneku” seems to be everywhere nowadays but in this case it was nice to find out that the Sorioneku beer had been produced by the local distillery Egiazki in collaboration with a small brewery in Navarra with the aim of helping the ikastolas in the north of the Basque Country. 10 centimes of each bottle sold goes to Seaska but as Adrien explained, he himself gives another 10 centimes on each bottle sold to the local ikastola.
On asking Adrien if he had any organic wines he informed me that he only sold organic wines. Not only that, I could pay in euskos as he is now the local “eusko bank” for anyone who wants to change their euros into “euskos. It’s always great to see small producers and shopkeepers so interested in helping their local community and economy and hopefully we can one day sell some of the wines he offers to our own consumers. In the meantime if you are ever in the area of Senpere La Cave Mahatsa is worth stopping at and Adrien will be only too happy to practice his Basque with you! Oh, and I almost forgot to say there are always art works on display as Adrien is also an art lover.
