San Sebastián is a city in the Basque Country, Spain, located on the Bay of Biscay. It is known for its beautiful beaches, cultural attractions, and excellent cuisine.
The region surrounding San Sebastián is also home to several wineries that produce high-quality Txakoli wines.
The Txakoli wine region is the closest to San Sebastian. Drive along the cost or through mountaneous roads to discover the gems of Basque wine making. You can combine discovering the town of Getaria and its beaches with visiting a local winery – both within an easy 30 minutes drive from San Sebastian.
The Rioja wine region is approximately 2 hours away. See my articles about visiting the Rioja wine region here.
What kind of wine is Txakoli?
Txakoli is a wine from the Basque Country region It is known for its distinctive flavor and acidic character, which makes it a good pairing with fish dishes.
Txakoli is traditionally made in spritzy, effervescent style, excellent for summer refreshment.
However, recently another more elaborated style Txakoli wines gains popularity. Wines aged on lees for prolonged periods of time, wines aged in concrete, in oak or acacia barrels, or blended with Chardonnay or Riesling have been well-accepted by consumers and critics alike. Innovations in Txakoli winemaking have attracted international interest.
The most famous Txakoli is white, and is made from the Hondarribi zuri grape variety. Red and rosé Txakoli are also produced, although they are less common. Some Txakoli wineries make white and rose sparkling wines.
Map of wineries near San Sebastian
Best wineries to visit near San Sebastian
Txakoli is produced in three designated regions: Getaria, Bizkaia, and Araba.
I love visiting Getaria vineyards located just next to the sea for their stunning views. Their wines are greatly influenced by saline-tinged sea breezes which give mineral and almost salty taste to the wines.
You can visit working Txakoli wineries and take part in tastings. Enjoy wine pairings with local products like Idiazabal cheese, Bermeo anchovies, tuna or Gernika peppers.
It is common for winemakers in the Txakoli region to come from long-standing family traditions, although there are also many newer wineries in the area.
Gaintza
Four generations of the Lazkano family have produced and distributed txakoli near Getaria on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea. The Gaintza cellar was set up in 1923. Today, the vineyards and cellar are still looked after by a small family team.
The family also run a small B&B situated amongst the grapevines of Getaria.
Winery visits are by appointment. Tuesday to Saturday except holidays at 11:30 am
After a guided tour you will be offered a tasting 3 Txakoli wines paired with 3 pintxos. Make sure you to taste Aitako, a highly rated wine which spends 12 months on its lees in stainless steel tank, with an additional 6 months in bottle before release and 10% Chardonnay in the blend.
Txomin Etxaniz
Txomin Etxaniz is the largest family-owned Txakoli winery with 60 hectares of land near the fishermen village of Getaria.
The views are stunning, and the Txakoli is very good! We left buying a handful of bottles and I cannot wait to drink them!
Visit Txomin Etxaniz winery to discover vineyards and state-of-the-art production process and to taste txakoli wine paired with anchovies and white tuna from Getaria.
The estate is open for visits from Monday to Saturday, with the exception of public holidays. Please book in advance online. Visits start at 11 and 11:30 am and last 1.5 hours.
Ameztoi
The Ameztoi winery is producing Txakoli near Getaria since 1820. The Ameztoi family lands are composed of 51 hectares of vineyards on the top of a hill with unforgettable views of the Cantabrian sea.
Five generations of winemakers have been producing wine at the estate.
The winery is open to the public. You can join one of the guided tours. Choose between tours with tasting of the three special Txakolis: the fresh 9·6, the elegant Primus and the exclusive Kirkilla, or the same combined with a tasting of anchovies and tuna from Getaria. There is a beautiful tasting room with a terrace.
Opening hours:
From January 1 to June 21 and from September 15 to December 31
Monday to Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm
From June 22 to September 14
Monday to Friday from 11 am to 7 pm
Weekends and holidays from 11 am to 3 pm
The winery houses 4 fully equipped cozy rooms with stunning views of the sea and the vineyard.
Talai Berri
Talai Berriy is a winery located in the Basque Country in the municipality of Getaria and is known for producing high quality white wines made from the native grape varieties of the region, such as Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza. The winery was founded in the early 1980s by the Fontelles family. Talai Berri has a vineyard of 12 hectares.
Fridays and Saturdays 11 am, except holidays by reservation
Price 18 euros/person
Visits for families with kids:
Wednesday 11 am, except holidays by reservation
Price 18 euros/person, children 9 euros
During the visit to the Talai Berri txakoli winery, one of the 5th generation of the family’s winemakers will welcome you for a visit visit and tasting of Talai Berri txakoli and Eusko Label quality products, such as Ibarra chillies, Idiazabal DO cheese, white tuna and Basatxerri sausage. You can also taste and buy the exclusive Hondarrabi Zuri TTANTTA vinegars and the vermouths MARI ZURI and MARI GORRI.
Bodega K5
Bodega K5 is situated in Aia, at an elevation of 300 meters above sea level. The bodega has stunning views of the Mouse of Getaria and the Orio fishing port.
Karlos Arguiñago started by producing a small number of bottles for personal use at his small vineyard. Eventrually, through hard work, he expanded the vineyard in 2005. In 2010, they built a new cellar and the first vintage of Bodega K5 was born.
Today, K5 and KPilota wines are produced on a 15 hectare plot from 100% Hondarrabi Zuri vines.
Visits are held Tuesday through Saturday.
On Saturdays, a minimum group of 4 adults is required.
Visit times: 11:30 am for the Standard Visit and 11:00 am for the Premium Visit.
Standard visit
Includes vineyard visit, winery tour, manufacturing process explanation and the tasting of two wines (KPilota and K5) with local products from the area.
Premium visit
Premium visit with vertical tasting: Includes vineyard visit, winery tour, manufacturing process explanation and the tasting of KPilota and three different vintages of K5 with local products from the area.
Helicopter + tasting
Enjoy the magnificent views of San Sebastián from the air and land at the K5 winery of the Arguiñano family to enjoy an exclusive tour of the vineyard and the winery.
Includes KPilota tasting and vertical tasting of 2 K5 vintages with local products. After having enjoyed the K5 winery for 1h 30min, we will make the return passing through Orio to see the views of Zarautz, Getaria in the background and return along the coast to Akelarre.
Hiruzta
The name Hiruzta comes from HIRUren UZTA, a three-person harvest. The Rekalde family, a father and his two sons, Asensio, Txarli and Angel Rekalde opened a winery at one of the most beautiful locations in the Basque Country, Hondarribia in 2011.
Today, on the 17 hectares of vineyards the estate produces white, rose and red Txakoli as well as sparkling wines made from traditional grapes.
Hiruzta winery is also a home to a winery and a restaurant, a special place to enjoy quality Basque cuisine. The Asador Sutan serves local and seasonal foods taken directly to the grill and paired with Txakoli wine.
The winery offers guided tours, wine and food pairings as well as just a tasting. You can also discover Txakoli by the glass or by the bottle on a terrace with views of the vineyard at the foot of the Jaizkibel mountain.
GUIDES TOUR AND TASTING
From Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays at 12 pm and 1 pm.
WINE & GASTRONOMY EXPERIENCE
Tasting of txakoli wines: Hiruzta, Hiruzta Berezia and Hiruzta Rosé paired with local foods.
From Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays at 12 pm and 1 pm.
‘DISCOVER HIRUZTA’ TASTING
Commented Tasting of Hiruzta, Hiruzta Berezia and Hiruzta Rosé txakoli wines.
From Wednesday to Saturday between 3 pm and 5:30 pm
Rezabal
Txakoli Rezabal is a family winery located in Zarautz with a vineyard area of 24 hectares. The estate features the latest technology, using most traditional methods.
Two native varieties Hondarrabi-Zuri and Hondarrabi-beltza are cultivated. Today the winery produces white and rose txakoli as well as a delicious sparkling wine.
By appointment.
Wine pairing with pinxtos is available on request.
Bodega Hika
Hika Txakolina is a recently created winery. With only 7 hectares of vineyards, it produces modern, and elegant white and rose txakoli and sparkling wines.
This modern winery located near the city of Donostia-San Sebastián has a spacious building, beautiful gardens and an onsite gastronomic restaurant.
Appointment required.
