Electrifying Basque Benchmark Txakoli Whites - 2x WS Top 100 Stunners
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Originally sent to our list on October 17, 2026. Pricing and availability reflect that date — for current pricing and stock, see artisan.wine.
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A Personal Note
Dear Artisans,
If you crave Champagne and Sancerre, why not enjoy the thrilling, thirst-quenching juiciness of both?
That is Txakoli, and Txomin Etxaniz is the Basque benchmark: bright, salty, low in alcohol, with a fine natural spritz. Pour it cold. You will be addicted.
Our Woman In Barcelona
As you might’ve noticed, we’ve been on a Spanish wine kick lately, partially because our own intrepid explorer Barbara Rooks is living in Barcelona! She headed north to the Basque Country and had the opportunity to visit Basa Lore, home of some lovely Txakolina: their vines are trained to grow very high on their steep slopes, so that the grapes can be easily picked when hanging down from the vines. Stored in stainless steel and bottled only as needed, the wines are traditionally poured from a height to add to their slight spritzy nature. Please read below for more details on this delicious wine!
Champagne Sparkle, Sancerre Snap
The winery ferments at very low temperatures to keep some of the natural CO2 in the wine, so it reaches the glass with a gentle prickle. Then comes the Sancerre side. Jeb Dunnuck: “a crisp, salty white wine with balanced acidity and low alcohol.” James Suckling: “incisive and saline… Very refreshing.”
A Wine Spectator Top 100 Alum
Wine Spectator has put Txomin Etxaniz on its Top 100 twice: the 2023 white at No. 62 of 2024, and the 2020 rosé at No. 68 of 2021.
Wine Spectator’s Matt Kramer called it “one of the largest, and best, wineries in the zone,” and described Txakoli’s “light, natural effervescence.”
Old Vines By The Sea
Almost all Hondarrabi Zuri, with a little Hondarrabi Beltza, from Ametz Mendi and a handful of other historic vineyards in Getaria, planted from 1915 to 2000. Jeb Dunnuck notes the family has been in the old harbor since 1649, tending pergola vines more than 100 years old. Six months on the lees in stainless steel, then into the bottle.
Barcelona Wine Week
Barbara also attended Barcelona Wine Week, fast becoming one of Europe’s most important wine events. According to her report, there were well over 1,000 wines to sample, from about 50 DOs and another two dozen DOP regions!
Spain, By The Grape
There are over 100 unique varieties planted throughout Spain, though 80% of the country’s wine production is from only 20 grapes, including the reds Tempranillo, Garnacha (Grenache) and Monastrell (Mourvèdre); the whites Albariño from Galicia, Verdejo from Rueda, Palomino and Airén (used predominantly for sherry and brandy, respectively), and the three cava grapes Parellada, Xarel·lo and Macabeo. Most wines come from the northern half of the country, and for today’s offer we present two Basque Txakolis, plus two Galician whites we love.
The wine regions of Spain · Map: Wine Folly
Why Spain Over-Delivers
Each of these wines is light, delicious and very food-friendly. Not to mention Spain’s incredible quality-to-price ratio is unparalleled. This is due to a number of factors, including the abundance of old vineyards, the unwavering use of time-tested traditional winemaking techniques, and mostly because… that’s just how the Spanish roll.
James Tran
Artisan Wine & Spirits
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Why This Matters
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The Wine · The Basque Benchmark
2025 Txomin Etxaniz. Getariako Txakolina.
Jeb Dunnuck 92: “a crisp, salty white wine.”
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Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli Blanco 2025
Getariako Txakolina · Basque Country · 750 mL
Bright, salty and low in alcohol, from the producer of a Wine Spectator Top 100 white. Here are its two scored reviews, plus Wine Spectator’s note on the 2025.
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The Rosé · The Winery Barbara Visited
2021 Basa Lore Txakoli Rosado. Getariako Txakolina.
“Wild flower from the forest,” from a family making Txakoli in Zarautz since 1930.
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Basa Lore Txakoli Rosado 2021
Getariako Txakolina · Basque Country · 750 mL
Basa Lore means “wild flower from the forest” in Basque. The Angel family has made Txakoli in Zarautz, right on the ocean next to San Sebastián, since 1930, now in its fourth generation, and helped found the Getariako Txakolina D.O. with five other wineries. Native yeast, no added sulfites, non-intervention. Pour it with grilled fish, seafood, tuna or anchovies.
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More Spanish Whites
Two More From Green Spain.
If Txakoli is your thing, these are next.
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Avancia Old Vine Godello 2024
“Beautifully pure.” A Spanish taste-alike for Grand Cru Chablis, at $33.99.
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Leirana Albariño 2025
The Albariño The French Laundry poured by the glass all through 2025.
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The Bottom Line
Champagne’s sparkle, Sancerre’s snap. $24.99 a bottle.
Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli 2025: Jeb Dunnuck 92, James Suckling 91, at $24.99 against $27.00 elsewhere. From the producer of a Wine Spectator Top 100 white. And the Basa Lore Txakoli Rosado, from the family Barbara visited, at $19.97 against $25.00.
Pour it ice-cold. You will be addicted.
Cheers,
— James Tran
Artisan Wine & Spirits
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Artisan Wine & Spirits · 2495 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, CA 94043
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The Artisan VIP List
Prices so low… we can’t show!
Join our VIP list to receive private sale offers with prices too low to publish, along with rare allocations.
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