Astobiza joins our portfolio
Premium, single-estate txakoli from Álava now available
We are delighted to announce the addition of Astobiza to its portfolio, having secured exclusive UK distribution of this family owned, single estate txakoli producer and member of Grandes Pagos de España.
Astobiza is a family owned, single estate winery in Okondo, in the Ayala Valley of Álava, and is one of only 36 members of Grandes Pagos de España, the Spanish equivalent of a Grand Cru. With just seven hectares under vine within one protected site at 250 metres above sea level, the estate operates under a pago-style model, focused on maximum terroir expression. Sheltered by the Sierra Salvada mountains and influenced by the nearby Cantabrian Sea, the vineyard enjoys a rare Atlantic microclimate that supports slow, balanced ripening and naturally high acidity.
These wines are racy and approachable, and have real substance without taking themselves too seriously. Their aged wines are a real standout - aged for seven years or more, creating wines of great length, complexity and texture.
A new generation of txakoli
Founded in the mid-2000s, Astobiza has quickly established itself as one of Spain's specialist producers of premium txakoli, not only for its fresh, youthful style but also for exceptional aged versions, including the Malkoa Rosé, which was named by Tim Atkin MW as his "Wine of the Year" for 2026. Astobiza works exclusively with native Basque varieties: Hondarrabi Zuri, Hondarrabi Beltza and Izkiriota (Gros Manseng). Its wines are distributed internationally and sit firmly within the fine dining and gastronomic segment, recognised for redefining txakoli as a serious, long-lived wine style.
Precision viticulture, minimal intervention
The single vineyard is divided into seven micro-plots, each managed, harvested and vinified separately to capture subtle differences in soil, exposure and vine behaviour. The estate follows an agroforestry-based model; integrating trees, shrubs and permanent plant cover to build biodiversity, soil life and natural balance. While not formally certified organic or biodynamic, Astobiza prioritises environmental impact reduction and long-term vineyard health over interventionist solutions.
Why txakoli matters now
"We already have a really strong Spanish portfolio, and txakoli is the style that rounds it out," says Spanish Buyer, Sarah Benson MW. "These are racy, approachable wines that have real substance without taking themselves too seriously. Their aged wines are a real standout - aged for seven years or more, creating wines of great length, complexity and texture. That's exactly the quality and character we want to bring to our customers, and why we're so pleased to welcome Astobiza to the portfolio."
This style of wine, originally made for household consumption (etxeko ain in Basque), has evolved over the past 25 years, and demand is increasing worldwide. Production in the region remains small, with just under 1,000 hectares of vines across the three appellations (2020 data, Ardoa Basque Wine Board), making well-distributed, quality-driven txakoli a real point of difference on a list or shelf.
For more information, samples or pricing, please get in touch.
