Ameztoi
Getariako Txakolina | Basque Country
A renowned txakoli producer, celebrated for its traditional-style flagship wine, its invention of the world’s first rosé txakoli, and its pioneering méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines.
Introducing the Producer
Five Generations of Excellence
Ignacio Ameztoi is the fifth generation of his family to carry on the tradition of making txakoli in the province of Getaria, in Spain’s Basque Country. His intuitive and fearless pursuit of innovation has been a driving force in the txakoli world, and Ameztoi has played a key role in the advancement of Getariako Txakolina.
History & Origins
From Getaria to the World
The ancient fishing village of Getaria has stood on the Basque coast since the Bronze Age. Well-known for its connections to the sea, its name is presumed to derive from the Latin cetaria, meaning ‘a place where fish is preserved.’ The narrow alleys of its medieval old town wind their way down to the port, which is still an active fishing hub today, and the streets are lined with historic asadores—homestyle restaurants serving freshly-caught grilled seafood, destined to be paired with the very local txakoli.
Among locals, Getaria is perhaps most famous as the birthplace of Juan Sebastián Elcano (1487–1526), the famed Basque navigator who would later make history as the first person to complete a circumnavigation of the globe. Elcano took command of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition after the Portuguese explorer’s death, leading the fleet back to Spain and marking a milestone in global exploration.
Just as this native son of Getaria journeyed around the world, each bottle of Ameztoi to leave Getaria carries a tribute to his legacy: the label features a portrait of Elcano surrounded by the words “Primus Circumdedisti Me” (“You were the first to circumnavigate me”).
Building the Cult Following
From Legacy to Leadership
The Ameztoi family has been making txakoli since 1860. Their original winery was located in Zarautz, where the family still cares for a century-old vineyard of the native red grape hondarrabi beltza.
In 1989, the same year that Denominación de Origen Getariako Txakolina was established, Ignacio and his father Jose Antonio Ameztoi built the current winery in Getaria, atop a north-facing hillside that offers spectacular panoramic views of Getaria, Zarautz, and the Cantabrian Sea.
Today, the Ameztoi family own and farm 40 hectares of estate vineyards in the hills above Getaria and Zarautz. From high up in the vines, it’s possible to make out the city of San Sebastián, which is just twenty minutes’ drive away along a serpentine coastal highway.
Entirely deserving of their cult status in the wine world, Ameztoi has never stopped pushing the envelope, expanding the world’s expectations of what was once considered just working-class tavern wine. From long lees-aging to the revival of red txakoli and Traditional Method sparklers, Ignacio and the team aren’t just sitting back and enjoying the—admittedly breathtaking—view.
Process & Philosophy
Shaping the Future of Txakoli
When most local wineries had no use for red grapes and gave up on their hondarrabi beltza vines, the Ameztoi family held onto their old plots of red grapes, including a vineyard of beltza planted in 1840.
Inspired by the historic claret-style wines produced in the area long before the current global rosé craze, Ignacio decided to make an experimental wine by blending white hondarrabi zuri and red hondarrabi beltza grapes.
Twenty years later, his experiment has become a classic. Rubentis, the region’s first pink wine, is known around the world as a rosé of exceptional vibrancy, complexity, and fun.
Ignacio has continued to innovate with his exploration of méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines. His inspiration to use Getaria’s signature low alcohol levels and refreshing acidity as an ally to craft exceptional bottle-fermented sparkling wines has resulted in exciting new possibilities for the region.
Products
Wine
Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina 2025
Ameztoi ‘Rubentis’ Getariako Txakolina Rosé 2025
Ameztoi ‘Primus’ Getariako Txakolina 2024
Ameztoi ‘Stimatum’ Getariako Txakolina 2025
Ameztoi ‘Unicus’ Getariako Txakolina Metodo Tradicional Brut Nature 2017
