Tantaka - Arabako Txakolina

Serious Txakolina from the Arabako DO (Álava in Spanish).  Organically farmed and naturally made by Juanjo Tellaetxe, on land his family has owned since time immemorial.  Juanjo’s vineyards are located in the village of Artomaña in the Ayala (Aiara in Euskara) municipality of Álava.  Juanjo’s goal is to produce “honest wines with a deep, local character… avoiding manipulation and masking”.  His dedication to Tantaka is second only to his first devotion, his role as priest in the local villages.

Tantaka Txakoli Blanco 2023

100% Hondarrabi Zuri from 14-year-old vines at 330 meters in Juanjo’s 4 small family plots totaling 4.6 hectares.  Harvested by hand.

Winemaking: A gentle pressing, spontaneous fermentation, and aged on the fine lees for 6 months in stainless steel tanks of 2,000L and 5,000L.  Bottled November 2, 2024.

Production: 1,800 cases

Tantaka Txakoli Tinto 2022

100% Hondarrabi Beltza from 5-year-old vines at 320 meters in Juanjo’s 4 small family plots totaling 4.6 hectares.  Harvested by hand.

Winemaking: A gentle pressing, spontaneous fermentation, and aged for 5 months in stainless steel of 2,500L. Bottled December 30, 2023.

Production: 3,300 bottles (1,176 bottles imported)

Tantaka Txakoli Tinto 2025

100% Hondarrabi Beltza from 8-year-old vines at 320 meters in Juanjo’s 4 small family plots totaling 4.6 hectares.  Harvested by hand.

Winemaking:  A gentle pressing, spontaneous fermentation, and aged for 5 months in stainless steel of 2,500L. Bottled March 13, 2026.

Production: 3,300 bottles (672 bottles imported)

Decanter 92 - Tantaka Txakoli Blanco 2022

My Top 20 Txakoli by: Beth Willard

With a minimal-intervention approach to his winemaking, Juanjo Tellaetxe has produced a very pure expression of Hondarrabi Zuri from the Arrastaria valley, south of Bilbao.  Fermented in stainless steel, this spends about five months on the lees, adding weight without losing any of the bright, green apple, grapefruit, and floral aromas.  A little spice on an aniseed finish.  A very gastronomic wine.

RP91 - Tantaka Txakoli Blanco 2024

Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

Issue Date: June 18, 2026

The 2024 Blanco was produced with Ondarrabi Zuri (his spelling) and aims to replicate the wines produced 100 years ago in a zone that later almost lost all its vineyards. It's a tender and gentle white with lemon pie aromas and with no gas. It has a medium-bodied palate, good ripeness and a dry, chalky finish. It comes in at 13% alcohol, with a pH of 3.22 and 6.41 grams of acidity. 14,400 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2025.  Drink 2026 - 2029

RP91 - Tantaka Txakoli Tinto 2025

Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

Issue Date: June 18, 2026

The 2025 Tinto was produced with Hondarrabi Beltza grapes from eight-year-old vines at 330 meters on limestone and clay soils. The destemmed grapes fermented in 500-liter open-top vats and matured in 2,500-liter stainless steel vats for five months. It has a bright ruby color and a clean and pure nose of cherries, with a notable absence of herbal notes. It has a medium-bodied palate with fine tannins and some herbal tones in the finish. Pleasant and straightforward, it has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.34 and 6.36 grams of acidity. 3,300 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2026.  Drink 2026 - 2029