Bodega Astobiza, the txakoli of Okondo.

Discover the Astobiza winery, a Txakoli winery that has made us fall in love with its wine, environment and personalized attention.

The Astobiza winery, also known as the Señorío de Astobiza winery, is a medium-large winery located in the village of Okondo, Araba. A space that, combining the best of the tradition of Txakoli in Euskadi and technology, has managed to raise its wines to a privileged position. This company, created in 2007 and protected by the Denomination of Origin Arabako Txakolina, is a dream come true. Its owner, Xabier Abando, a lover of his land and in love with Txakoli, has seen how the vines that his aita had in Artxanda, in the upper part of Bilbao, have evolved to offer one of the most attractive Txakolis in Araba. Some wines, which, captained by their quality, have crossed all possible borders to reach countless countries (Thailand, Japan, Australia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Holland, England, Canada, USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, Peru and Russia). An international Txakoli, which is currently present in 4 continents and more than 20 countries. The Astobiza Winery has made us enjoy like dwarfs thanks to a different guided tour. A tour in which Ion Ahedo, our host, a connoisseur of each and every one of the facets of the winery, commented on details that were unknown to us so far. Small details that turned this guided tour into a great experience. Highly recommended. A journey that takes us to know the route that the grape travels from the field to the glass. We would like to begin to unravel the secrets of the Astobiza winery with a phrase of Ion: Txakoli is freshness, is green, is Euskadi. A magical phrase, which caught our attention and that of the rest of the people who enjoyed this experience. And you, do you dare to know the txakolis of the Astobiza winery?

The care and detail with which Astobiza Txakoli is made during the whole process of elaboration, makes us understand the quality of the final product. A process that begins in the field, paying close attention to what is undoubtedly the protagonist of all good Txakoli, the grape, the Hondarrabi zuri. The harvesting, selective and careful, by hand, is fundamental to pamper the grape. After cutting the bunches, they are transferred to the winery in small boxes of about 7 kg, so that the grapes reach the winery intact and in the shortest possible time. It is here, in the winery, where winemakers have a greater weight, and is that, after being aware of everything that happened between vineyards, it is time to put the eye on each of the processes that take place inside the winery, destemming, pressing, maceration, fermentation … Methods of development, in which a low temperature and a good atmosphere, helps to get the best of the Hondarrabi zuri. Currently, this winery from Alava produces 3 wines that differ from each other by the way of elaboration: Astobiza, Malkoa and Astobiza late harvest. All of them are smooth, pleasant and grateful.

Txakoli, to a greater or lesser extent, has always been with us, before for our own consumption, now for public consumption. A sector that has become so professionalized that nowadays it fights to be one of the best white wines in the world. Xabier Abando, creator of this wonderful farm that obeys the rules of the Denomination of Origin Arabako Txakolina, has lived all this trajectory in first person. Do you want to know more about Astobiza? Attention, we are starting!

Location: Astobiza winery is located in Okondo, a small village located in the Ayala Valley, Aiaraldea. An area in the north of Araba, which is about 20 minutes from the center of Bilbao. A space in which the environment is the main protagonist. And it is that the vineyards of Astobiza, accompany the enormous forest mass that we find in this part of Alava. Green rules. But its location is not only essential for the enjoyment of our sight, it is also essential for the grape. The peculiar characteristics of its geographical location, 250 meters above sea level, away from the fogs and frosts of winter, protected by the surrounding mountains, make the 7 hectares of vineyards next to the winery perfect for the production of native grapes such as Hondarrabi Zuri, Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratie (Petit Corbu) or Izkiriota (Gros Manseng). Its vineyards, facing south, are characterized by producing fruity, fresh and smooth wines. These characteristics are a direct consequence of everything that surrounds the vineyard.

Winemakers: We are told that Ana Martin and Pepe Hidalgo are the winemakers in charge of this winery in Alava. Two people we already knew from our visit to the Hiruzta winery in Hondarribia. And the truth is that all the txakolis that have some relation with these two cracks of winemaking, end up conquering us sooner or later. This winery does not keep any secret when it comes to making txakoli. Work fused with quality raw material. Grapes, which are subjected to a very complete monitoring, ensuring the quality of each one of them until they reach the winery. Astobiza does not stop innovating, and although txakoli is a traditional and historical drink, it also admits certain types of peculiarities, thus creating a more special, higher quality wine. An example of this are the American oak barrels or the cement eggs that we find in this Basque winery, two elements that, although for many may be common, are not common in txakoli wineries.

Attention: Ion Ahedo, neighbor of the legendary Karrantza Valley and worker of the Txakoli Astobiza Winery, accompanied us during our visit to this farm located in Okondo. A great host, who helped us to enjoy a luxury space in Araba. He was the one who surprised us by explaining us dozens of small aspects that surround the daily life of the winery. Details that we did not know and we had never heard of before. A pleasant and very interesting visit, which, together with the tasting, motivated us to buy a few cases of the txakoli produced in Astobiza.

Guided tour: Astobiza winery offers several types of visits. In our case, we made a very special visit, a peculiar experience that invites us to know a different winery every Saturday in autumn. This initiative, promoted by Basque Mountains, invites us to visit Airaldea while we enjoy a guided tour among the vineyards, learning about the entire winemaking process and enjoying a pleasant tasting accompanied by a small “hamaiketako” (lunch at 11 o’clock in Basque). Our adventure in Astobiza began at 12 noon, in Okondo, together with a small number of visitors. After a short presentation of the winery, Ion guided us through the plots of Hondarribi Zuri until we reached the area where the vines that they reserve to produce their Astorbiza late harvest were located. A nice space, from where to know each and every one of the works that are carried out in the field. We must not forget that the grape is everything. After learning more in detail about each aspect of the harvest, we return to the winery, where we go through the machines to follow the same path that the grapes take before becoming must. Selection, elaboration, bottling and storage. Although most of the process does not differ from the rest of the txakoli wineries we have visited, 2 elements we saw in this area caught our attention: the “concrete eggs” and the oak barrels. Especially the concrete eggs, a kind of tanks where they give body to the Malkoa txakoli, a very special wine that differs in more than one aspect from the Astobiza txakoli. We are sure that they will surprise you too, for now, we are not going to reveal anything, we prefer you to discover it in person. After the guided tour inside the winery, we go up to the second floor to visit the small txoko, which, with incredible views of the vineyard, invites us to know their txakoli. It is time to taste the wine they make. Accompanied by a pairing of local product, an incredible Idiazabal cheese produced in Izoria, we enjoyed a great commented tasting. And, although we could differ in some of the flavors obtained, the general opinion was the same. Very good. Once again, Ion’s phrase came to our minds when he told us that the txakoli should reflect what we had seen among the vineyards of Okondo, freshness, fruit, greenery. Everything fits. We recommend you to taste this wine looking at the vineyard, at the countryside, because the taste we get in the mouth faithfully reflects everything we find outside. Although visits to the txakolindegis (txakoli wineries) in the north of the Basque Country may bear some resemblance to visits to the wineries in the south, in the Rioja Alavesa, we can attest that they have some differentiating aspects. After all, the peculiarities of each climate make differences inevitable.

Vineyards and elaboration: Each year, the txakoli produced differs from that of previous years. This is dictated by the weather. However, Astobiza’s premise remains the same, to produce the best txakoli possible. Starting with the work in the field, in the vineyards, which, supported by the traditional trellis system, high up, support the fruit that gives life to the Astobiza wines. Thus, taking care of even the smallest detail, they ensure that the atmosphere of the vineyard is faithfully reflected in the taste of their wines. We must point out that, although Txakoli has traditionally been a wine of the year, many of the wineries we have visited are evolving, creating more complex wines, Txakoli of long aging, among them Astobiza. Innovating day after day.

Txakoli: Currently, Astobiza has 3 wines on the market. Very soft and pleasant wines, which make them flow with great ease. Although all of them are created from practically the same varieties, the particularities of the late harvest, make us doubt when it comes to classify it as txakoli. In any case, the 3 wines they make, Astobiza, Malkoa and Vendimia tardía, have our approval. Highly recommended. From the winery, they give us the following recommendations to enjoy their creations to the maximum.

• Astobiza: Serve in glass at around 8 to 10 degrees. A perfect white wine for fish and seafood.
• Malkoa: Same characteristics as its younger brother, in glass, between 8 and 10 degrees. Ideal for pairing with Idiazabal cheese.
• Late harvest: A very special wine, sweet, which fits perfectly with dishes of great flavor and character, such as Foie.

Reservations: Basque Mountains, the commercial brand that brings together several regions of the interior of Euskadi, offers us to enjoy the different Txakoli wineries that we find in Aiaraldea. An experience that is marketed every Saturday in autumn. A plan that allows us to enjoy the Ayala Valley, an idyllic space located in the muga (border) between Bizkaia and Araba. We recommend you, an ideal option to know some of the txakoli wineries that are part of the well-known .

Restaurant: The Astobiza Winery’s restaurant is not an ordinary restaurant. It is an establishment that only complements the guided tours of large groups. The space occupied by the restaurant is also used for tasting txakoli, so we were able to enjoy this cozy txoko while tasting the Astobiza wine. A place that we fell in love with thanks to its huge window and comfortable sofas. Fairytale. This space with capacity for 99 people, is designed for the delight of its visitors, everything is thought to detail. In our case, we visited the winery with a small group of people, so the restaurant was closed. So, having ruled out the Astobiza restaurant, we opted to taste the creations of the restaurant Antojo de Respaldiza, a nice and cozy establishment, where we enjoyed a nice dining experience.

Txakolingunea: Although it is not located near the Astobiza Winery, before visiting a Txakoli winery it is always advisable to visit Txakolingunea, the Txakoli museum. A space located in Bakio, which highlights the cultural and historical importance of Txakoli in the Basque Country.

TurismoVasco Tiketa: Our accreditation has gone this time to the Astobiza winery. A small recognition, which highlights the great work they have been doing since they opened their doors to the public in early 2007. By means of this small sticker, we recommend to all our readers a guided visit to this winery as well as the different wines they produce. We are sure you will not be disappointed.

Videos: Once again, we wanted to accompany our words and photos with a video. A small audiovisual element, which shows what awaits you in this earthly paradise located in Okondo. We hope you like it and that it helps you to get a better idea of what Astobiza winery has to offer. By the way, we recommend you to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don’t miss any of our adventures in Euskadi.

Although all the txakoli wineries have common elements, although they all follow the same line of elaboration, each of the wineries we have visited has shown us that they all have some peculiarity. The famous phrase, seen one seen them all, does not fit in this type of spaces. Each txakoli winery is a world. We hope that this article about Bodega Astobiza will help you to decide to visit it. We are sure that you will not be disappointed, we are waiting for your comments!