Familia Martínez Zabala

Juan José Díez, Winemaker of Bodegas Faustino, is among the Top 100 winemakers in the world

Juan José Díez, Winemaker of Bodegas Faustino

The book The Master Winemaker 100, edited by the specialized magazine Drinks Business, has highlighted Juan José Díez, winemaker of Bodegas Faustino, among the 100 Best Winemakers in its 2024 edition.

The 100 winemakers comprising this prestigious list are those who have achieved the highest accolade - Master medal - in one of the 20 competitions held annually by 'The Global Wine Masters', where a panel of professional judges in the wine world blind-tastes 3,000 samples from the main wine regions of the world.

The publication recognizes and pays homage to the individuals for their dedication and ability to produce outstanding wines.

Juan José Díez, winemaker of Faustino Winery (Familia Martínez Zabala), has been recognized among the best in the world by the guide The Master Winemaker 100, edited by the specialized magazine Drinks Business.

The newly presented book features a list of 100 winemakers who have received a Master medal in one of the 20 competitions held annually by 'The Global Wine Masters', where a demanding panel of judges of the highest professional level (including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, specialized journalists, and senior buyers) blind-tastes 3,000 wine samples from the main wine regions of the world.

In the case of Juan José Díez, his presence in the book is endorsed by two Rioja Masters obtained with the wines Faustino I Gran Reserva, the best-selling wine in the world in Rioja's most prestigious category, and Faustino & Eneko. Two benchmark wines from Bodegas Faustino that have won The Global Wine Masters' and continue to compete for the best international awards.

The first thing to do is to be in the vineyard

Born in Logroño (Rioja), Juan José Diez González is an Agricultural Engineer and holds a Degree in Winemaking. He is a professional with a powerful 360º vision of winemaking. His greatest passion is to create wine from the vineyard: the most important thing is to be in the trenches, in the vineyard.

This passion arises due to his family's connection to the countryside and their enthusiasm for translating the expression of products from the field to the table. Juan José consistently emphasizes that experience, coupled with a bit of luck, used to form the foundation of a wine's success. However, in the current era of climate change, success hinges on the fusion of expertise and the implementation of methodologies grounded in scientific principles, from the grape to the glass.

Master Winemakers of the World

The Master Winemaker 100 is an annual guide edited by the prestigious international magazine Drinks Business. In this edition, it recognizes the work of Juan José Díez and other professionals from around the world, for their dedication and ability to produce wines of exceptional quality.

The Master Winemaker 100 guide thus highlights the work of those winemakers who, with their passion and experience, continue to elevate the profile of global wine. The selected Master Winemakers have been recognized for having received at least one Master medal in one of the 20 competitions organized each year by 'The Global Wine Masters'. This award rarely given because it requires unanimity among all judges, as to be awarded the Master title, the wine must score more than 96 out of 100 points.

Although the magazine consistently honors the top-scoring wines annually, through its exclusive list of the 100 Master Winemakers of the World, its primary aim is to acknowledge the exceptional individuals behind the creation of outstanding wines.