Grapes are hand-harvested and varieties are fermented seperately. Gran Faustino I Gran Reserva 2004 has been aged for at least 38 months in American oak (80%) and French oak (20%) barrels, with five rackings during this time. They are barrels in the first, second and third year of use, combining the passage through them to find the balance needed… ‘by listening to the wine’. During the aging process, personal tastings by the family and the winemaking team were crucial to finding the perfect balance between the barrels. These tastings were done every eight months, when the wine was racked. After bottling, it waited many years during a long period of refinement in the cellar’s magnificent wine racks.

Vineyards are located in the Oyón and Laguardia areas of the Rioja Alavesa zone at an average altitude of 550m. The vineyards are surrounded by scrubland and some estates are at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria, sheltered by the mountains. The north to south orientation of vineyard rows maximises sunlight exposure to favour optimal ripening of the grapes. The soil in Laguardia is rich in iron and clay, while the soil in Oyón is predominantly calcareous. Bringing together these two vineyard areas deliver the perfect balance for a wine with a long shelf-life.