**The Wine Chef with Bodegas Faustino winemaker Juan José Díez González**

Here’s how a great evening begins: the sizzle of sliced onions and garlic hitting hot olive oil, the fragrant aroma of saffron wafting from a simmering saucepan, and the clink of glasses filled with wine. Recently, at my alma mater, the Institute of Culinary Education (formerly The French Culinary Institute), I was immersed in the tastes of Spain—both in the glass and on the plate.

Superb Hosts

Bodegas Faustino, one of the "First Families of Rioja" founded in 1861, hosted the event in collaboration with Winebow Imports. Head winemaker Juan José Díez González was in attendance, cooking and sipping along with a small group of journalists. To welcome us, he poured glasses of crisp Faustino Cava Brut, followed, later in the evening, by two terrific wines from the Gran Faustino I line—a white and a red.

Hands-On Cooking

The kitchens buzzed with the sounds of chopping, sizzling, and stirring as attendees teamed up with the school’s chefs to prepare a feast inspired by Spanish culinary traditions. The menu included:

Gambas al Ajillo (garlic shrimp): Plump, juicy shrimp bathed in a fragrant garlic and olive oil sauce.
Tortilla Española: A classic Spanish potato and onion omelet.
Arroz Negro: Squid-ink paella with its signature deep, briny flavor.
Paella Valenciana: A hearty version with shrimp, chicken, and chorizo.

Click here for the recipes

Iconic Wines

One of the evening’s highlights was the debut of Faustino’s first-ever white Gran Reserva, an exciting expansion of its red wine-dominated portfolio. The wine, Faustino I Gran Reserva 2019 Blanco, is elegant and complex, an excellent example of an age-worthy white Rioja.

The evening’s other showstopper wine was the Gran Faustino I Gran Reserva 2004, a limited-edition bottling celebrating the 40th anniversary of the winery’s I Gran Reserva line. The grapes are carefully selected from the best vineyards in Oyón and Laguardia, perched at elevations between 500 and 650 meters. The wine is aged in the finest barrels—80% American oak and 20% French oak—resulting in a classic Rioja with incredible structure, balance, and aging potential. Díez González noted that the 2004 vintage was outstanding, perfect for a celebratory release.

***Faustino I Gran Reserva, launched in 1964, is one of the world’s best-selling Gran Reservas. Its signature frosted bottle, featuring artwork inspired by Rembrandt, is a Rioja icon.***

As we finished our last bites and sips, it struck me that the same dedication to quality and tradition that make Bodegas Faustino’s wines special was just as present in the food we cooked. The wine and cuisine worked beautifully together, a reminder of why Spanish food and Rioja wines continue to win hearts everywhere.