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Eleuterio Martinez Arzok, founder of Bodegas Faustino, was a visionary with ambition and ambition. In 1861, he purchased an estate with vineyards in Rioja and founded Bodegas Faustino.
Then, the phylloxera epidemic that swept across Europe nearly destroyed his dream, but the family winery survived these difficult times.
In 1920, Faustino Martinez Pérez de Albéniz and his father began restoring their vineyards.
Today, Bodegas Faustino, located in Rioja Alavesa, encompasses 650 hectares. Faustino's wines are exported to over 100 countries worldwide, and the company is the world's best-selling producer of Gran Reserva.
Despite the winery's impressive success, the company continues to strive for excellence. Its exploration of winemaking techniques is evident in three newly released wines: Gran Faustino 1955, Faustino Art Collection Willy Ramos Edition, and Icon Reserva Especial (the 2014 vintage is only the second).
Gran Faustino was first released in 1963. The 1955 vintage aged for eight years before finally being released. To celebrate the wine's 55th anniversary (2018), the winery is releasing 2,555 bottles of Gran Faustino 1955 from its cellars, allowing the public to savor this refined wine.
Back then, the winemaking techniques were far less sophisticated than they are today. Therefore, the best way to transport grapes at the time was to place them in baskets tied to the sides of donkeys or horses and carry them to nearby wineries. Once in the winery, the grapes undergo a process similar to semi-carbonic maceration before fermentation begins, which is crucial for ensuring quality.
The Art Collection embodies the winery's current winemaking philosophy. Made entirely from Tempranillo, this exquisite wine was once given as a gift to Willy Ramos, one of Spain's most influential artists and a fan of the winery. Willy Ramos immigrated to Spain from Colombia at the age of 14.
Ramos redesigned the winery's label, inspired by a portrait of Dutch merchant Nicolaes Van Bambeeck. After months of creative work and numerous revisions, Ramos finally delivered a satisfying result. Ramos himself stated, "The label is full of color, energy, and emotion, just like Faustino wine."
Faustino is undoubtedly one of Spain's most renowned wine brands, but it refuses to rest on its laurels and continues to forge ahead, producing wines of ever-greater quality, depth, and quality.
While continuing to strengthen its foundation, Bodegas Faustino maintains close engagement with a new generation of consumers and wine enthusiasts and looks forward to further collaborations with world-renowned artists.
Region
Rioja has a rich wine history. Remains of wineries reveal traces of its presence as far back as the Phoenician and Celtiberian periods, with the earliest documented record dating back to 873. The first and most significant milestone came in 1787, when the Real Junta de Cosecheros, a union of producers, was established to promote, trade, and improve the quality of Rioja's wines. Roads and bridges were built to enhance transportation throughout Rioja, effectively establishing Rioja's purpose and identity. The mid-19th century marked a period of rapid growth, with many winemakers returning from Bordeaux, France, to learn from their experience. Later, French winemakers, driven south by the opening of new roads and the impact of the phylloxera epidemic, introduced many Bordeaux winemaking and aging techniques, establishing the Rioja style and status that continues to this day.
Faustino I Gran Reserva is bottled only in excellent vintages and bears the Rembrandt label, known for its opaque bottle and dazzling gold mesh. This traditional attire has ensured that this classic Rioja wine remains relevant to all current trends. Faustino I Gran Reserva is released only when it is guaranteed to be fully enjoyed. Aged for at least 25 months in French and American oak barrels and at least 3 years in the bottle, this wine is an iconic, democratic drink at a reasonable price.
