Astobiza Rosé, DO Arabako Txakolina, 2025

Producer Profile

Astobiza is a family owned, single estate winery located in Okondo, in the Ayala Valley of Álava (Basque Country).

With just 7 hectares under vine, within one protected site at 250 metres above sea level, the winery operates under a pago style model focused on maximum terroir expression. Sheltered by the Sierra Salvada mountains and influenced by the nearby Cantabrian Sea, Astobiza benefits from a rare Atlantic microclimate that supports slow, balanced ripening and high natural acidity. Founded in the mid 2000s, Astobiza has quickly established itself as one of Spain’s reference producers for premium, age worthy Txakoli. Now a member of Grandes Pagos de España, the estate works exclusively with native Basque varieties—Hondarrabi Zuri, Hondarrabi Beltza and Izkiriota (Gros Manseng). Its wines are internationally distributed, positioned firmly within the fine dining and gastronomic segment, and recognised for redefining Txakoli as a serious, long lived wine style.

Viticulture

Astobiza Rosé is produced from a rigorous plot by plot vineyard selection, with grapes harvested by hand into small crates to preserve fruit quality. A second selection is carried out on the sorting table to ensure only the best fruit is used. The wine is made from an equal blend of Ondarrabi Zuri and Ondarrabi Beltza, two indigenous Basque varieties that express freshness, minerality and saline character.

Winemaking

Carefully selected Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarrabi Belta grapes are processed immediately upon arrival at the winery. Following destemming and gentle crushing, the must undergoes a short, cold pre‑fermentative maceration on the skins to extract colour and enhance aromatic expression. This is followed by soft pressing and flotation clarification to obtain a clean, clarified must. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperature conditions. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is racked off the gross lees and aged on fine lees for 4–5 months to enhance texture, complexity and mouthfeel. Prior to bottling, the wine is clarified, cold‑stabilised if required, and subjected to both plate and microbiological filtration to ensure clarity and stability.

Tasting Note

Floral aromas with notes of white flowers and strawberries. On the palate it is citrus-driven and fresh, showing typical varietal character with mineral and saline touches. Well balanced, intense, with a long and persistent aromatic finish.

Food matching

Ideal with raw blue fish, tuna, salmon, sautéed jumbo prawns, as well as Mexican and Thai cuisine.