About Itsasmendi

A small winery at the heart of Urdaibai

Bodega Itsasmendi was created in 1994 by a group of winegrowers whose initial aim was to produce a quality Txakoli that stood out in the general context of white wines and to convey the individual character of our winemaking region to the best of our ability.

Re-establishing a social-economic activity that is as important to Biscay as wine-growing has been in centuries past. Starting with three hectares in Muskiz, Bakio and Mendata, a winery was set up in Muskiz with a production capacity of 25,000 L. In 2003, the facilities were relocated to Gernika. These years were significant, not just for the way in which Itsasmendi Txacoli was recieved by the specialist press, restaurants and consumers, but also for the capacity to innovate in creating new products.

Our winery

Like the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve to which it belongs, Bodegas Itsasmendi is a winemaker in constant evolution; rich in diversity, natural and complex. The team’s restless, innovative spirit has given rise to a new concept for Txakoli, founded on respect for the environment. This new building, which represents the soil from which it has grown, is conceived as a living construction that will evolve naturally over the years, adapting to the space in which it was built.

It includes an R&D facility for new products in line with market trends, a micro-vinification area to improve the quality of some of our products, and a full complement of vats of various sizes, enabling us to make wines from individual towns, areas or specific vineyards.

Wine tourism that as a name: Artizar

Artizar is the 360º Wine Tourism created by Itsasmendi.
In the desire to socialize quality through simply different people who develop their profession with humility, professionalism, working with passion and trust as a team, a new way of seeing and feeling wine tourism is born.

Artizar whose literal translation is Venus, the first planet that lights up the sky at dusk, is the goddess of love
beauty and fertility. Mother of nature, entrusted and delivered to her. Goddess born from the waves and who came to the shore in a shell.

Great things have small beginnings.

Integrating the vineyard into the natural environment

The creation of great wines begins in the vineyard. What sets our project apart is precisely the 35 hectares of vineyard in 15 different plots, carefully selected by our technical team, which provide us with a rich biodiversity in the grapes harvested. A distinctly Atlantic climate, a huge variety of geology and micro-climates, resulting in at least three different ripening weeks, and a wine-growing philosophy based on the utmost respect for the environment are the reasons behind our focus on quality and sustainability. The use of indigenous varieties with a pronounced earthy quality, like the Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratie varieties, enhances the richness provided by nature.