Faustino Wine

The history of Faustino dates back a century and a half although the award winning wine that we can enjoy nowadays has a history of little over 50 years resulting from the hard work of the founders grandson.

There is a short history that can be read on the company's web sites in English or Spanish (www.bodegasfaustino.com or www.grupofaustino.es) but the even more condensed version is that a vineyard was bought in 1861 in the Rioja region and through the family generations has become the world famous bodega we know and love today.

Faustino is a wine in which you need to carefully check the label. The first time I tried a glass was in a country bar in the Canary islands - one of those bars that tourists never see and the waiter speaks Spanish with a broad and gruff accent. You know those places? They have cheap, good home-cooked food and usually a wine list which is twice as long as the food menu.

Not being a Spanish speaker I took what was ordered for me and despite the extra-strong garlic which came with the tomato salad, dinner was an awesome affair. The exception for me being the wine. At this time I had heard of Faustino, but was somewhat disappointed compared to the very easy drinking Torres bottles that I was becoming accustomed to on a daily basis. Waffling aside, the point I am trying to make is that Faustino comes in various similar looking bottles and you need to look at the number. Faustino VIII is not the first bottle to be enjoyed of an evening, whereas if you aim for a lower number, you will be getting a rich red oaked drop of heaven with slightly spiced undertones that feels like velvet on your tongue.

This spring the Faustino team were extremely busy picking up a selection of awards for the fruits of their labour: 4 medals at the Challenge International du Vin in Bourdeaux, 3 silver medals at the Vinalies Internationales in Paris and 8 medals at the Concours Mondial.... and all this on top of 2 medals at the Berliner Wein Trophy. So as the story will tell you, the wine range is pretty good offering a selection of flavours for all budgets, tastes and styles.

So which of the Faustino wine range will be your choice?

Here are just 3 of the delicious range which may be to your taste:-

Faustino I Gran Reserva
Made from 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo grapes
Gran Reserva is one of the highest qualities of Spanish wine and refers to wine which has been aged for 2 years in oak and 3 years in the bottle, totaling 5 years before being available to purchase and enjoy. In the case of Faustino I, the wine has had 28 months in oak casks of American and French woods.
The wine is a rich ruby colour and a very smooth drink with hints of oak and other spices.

Faustino V
The Faustino V reserva is made from 90-92% Tempranillo and 8-10% Mazuelo depending on which year the vintage is and has fruity spiced flavour. Although it would be a great addition to a meaty stew in the winter, I personally prefer to enjoy it in the glass rather than on the plate.
The white version of the number V is made of 100% Viura grapes and has an intensly dry yet fruity nose.
There is also a rosé bottle whose 100% Tempranillo grapes have wonderful flavour both when very and lightly chilled. Less chilled my personal opinion is that you can appreciate the different fruity flavours more.

Faustino VII
The red wine is a very easy drinking wine and being of a higher number, tends to be on the cheaper side of aforementioned bottles. The 10 months the wine is aged in oak are noticeable in the 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo grapes.
On the other hand the rosé with its Tempranillo and Garnacha has a distinctive dry fruity nose and is one of those wines which accompanies almost any meal a treat.
The white wine like the V is completely viura and has a citrus-ness to it which the V doesn't.