The winery dates back from the second half of the 19th century when Eleuterio Martínez Arzok settled in Oyón (Rioja Alavesa) and started to produce wine for bulk sale. His son Faustino began bottling in 1920 and grandson Julio Faustino embarked on the first exports in 1960. The Flemish-inspired characters on the labels, the frosted glass bottles and the mesh for the Gran Reserva -already in use by other historical Riojas- form part of the Denomination's iconography.
Faustino is a high volume winery which presents itself as the leading Gran Reserva producer and owner of the region's largest vineyard area, with 650 hectares spread across the villages of Laguardia and Oyón, and almost 50,000 aging barrels.
It makes young wines (white, rosé, red) and cavas. Barrel-aged reds start with Faustino Crianza (€76) and Faustino V Reserva (€10) up to Faustino I Gran Reserva (€20) and the modern Faustino Icon (€25). Except for the Crianza, which is made entirely from Tempranillo, the rest of the reds include some Mazuelo or Graciano and are aged mainly in American oak barrels. These two varieties are represented (15%) in the Gran Reserva, which is aged in French and American oak for 22 months. It's worth looking for special editions of Faustino I and above all old vintages like 1964 or 1970.
The winery offers tours and is available for corporate activities. Special events such as wine tastings and vineyard tours with picnic lunch included can be also booked. Private bottle racks can be temporarily owned at the Faustino cellars.
Faustino is an important group which includes Bodegas Campillo and Marqués de Vitoria in Rioja; Bodegas Valcarlos in Navarra, Bodegas Portia (designed by Norman Foster) in Ribera del Duero; Condesa de Leganza in La Mancha and Bodegas Victorianas, a producer of table wines.
