The Talai-Berri winery is located at Zarautz, one of the towns belonging to the "Getariako Txakolina" D.O. Built in 1992, the winery lays on the sunniest slopes of Mount Talai Mendi, surrounded by 12 hectares of vineyards. Annual production is 7,500 cases.
Founder Bixente Eizagirre Aginaga represents the fourth generation, and his daughters, Itziar and Onditz, are the fifth generation making Txakoli out of their family vineyards’ fruit. The family relies on advanced techniques (harvest in small crates, sorting tables, temperature-controlled fermentation, etc. ...) to make top quality, young, fruity wine.
Bixente Eizaguirre, son of a family with a long history of wine production, already had a vast professional career in winemaking and production. He went beyond winemaking, taking initiative and focusing his efforts on obtaining the DO for a product which his ancestors, as well as himself, had been working so hard for.
The Getariako Txakolina DO was established in 1990, and in 1992, after more dedicated efforts from Bixente, Talai Berri became the first winery built exclusively for manufacturing and distributing Txakoli. Bixente Eizaguirre is a member of the Getariako Txakolina Denominación de Origin Control Board.
When the Talai Berri winery & facilities were created, new plantings were added to those which had existed for centuries. This was done to establish new hectares of vineyard with indigenous grapes. Traditionally, vineyards were established facing the sea and following the Spanish grapevine system. However, many did not consider that solar irradiation in the Basque Country was lower than in other traditional wine-production areas in Spain, and the rain was higher than the Spanish average. Therefore, the decision was made to plant the vineyards facing south and following the high trellis system.
Even amidst these changes, the characteristic indigenous types of grape for making Txakoli had been maintained: the Hondarribi Zuri and the Hondarribi Beltza are the top two grape varieties which fully adapt themselves to the land and climate of the area. Folle Blanche is another popular grape in the area. It is the land, climate, grape, and the combination of tradition and carefully elaborated innovation the creates a slightly sparkling wine that is young yet full of character, dry yet fresh, light yet fruity and persistent. Txakolina is 437 acres & the area produces 100,000 cases annually.
