Bodegas Faustino Gonzalez

Updated April 15, 2024

## Bodegas Faustino González: Cruz Vieja Sherries in the Heart of Jerez

Tucked into Calle Barja 1 in Jerez de la Frontera, Bodegas Faustino González is a small, family-run sherry house that punches far above its size in terms of history and wine quality. The bodega sits in the historic Barrio de San Miguel, one of the oldest quarters of Jerez and long associated with both flamenco and sherry. Wine

For RealJourneyTravels readers who care about authenticity, heritage, and seriously good wine, this is one of the most characterful bodegas you can visit in the sherry triangle.

—

## A Compact History: From 18th-Century Soleras to a Family Project

Bodegas Faustino González, as it exists today, dates to 1972. That year, Dr. Faustino González Aparicio bought a set of historic soleras, including butts dating back to 1789, from the Alcázar of Jerez. He moved those barrels into a small cellar owned by his wife, Carmen García-Mier, in the Cruz Vieja area of the San Miguel district. Wine

Those same soleras continue to age there more than two centuries after their origin, forming the backbone of the house’s wines. Wine

A few key facts about the bodega’s evolution:

– Family-owned and artisanal – The bodega explicitly defines itself as a family business dedicated to artisanal production of Marco de Jerez wines, using very traditional methods. Wine
– One of the smallest bodegas in Jerez – Independent sherry writers describe it as one of the smallest bodegas in the city, with around 300 butts in total.
– Barrel fermentation – Unusually for modern sherry production, the wines are still fermented in American oak butts rather than stainless steel, a detail repeatedly noted by specialist sources. Sevilla Tapas Tours

For visitors, this all translates into a compact, atmospheric space that still feels like a working craft cellar rather than a polished industrial winery.

—

## Setting: Barrio de San Miguel and Cruz Vieja

The bodega’s address is:

> Bodegas Faustino González
> Calle Barja 1, 11403 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain

It sits in Cruz Vieja, a historic corner of the San Miguel neighborhood, referenced both by the bodega’s own materials and independent writers. Wine

Why this matters for your itinerary:

– You’re in the historic center, within walking distance of other key sights in Jerez, including the broader San Miguel area and several well-known tabancos and monuments listed by local tourism and TripAdvisor city guides.
– The Cruz Vieja name isn’t just an address – it’s also the brand of the bodega’s sherries: the “Cruz Vieja” range you’ll taste on site.

(Internal link idea: this section ties naturally to a general “Things to Do in Jerez de la Frontera” guide.)

—

## The Wines: The Cruz Vieja Sherry Range

### Core en rama Sherries

Bodegas Faustino González is best known for its Cruz Vieja sherries, bottled en rama (minimally filtered). The range, as described by the bodega and specialist sherry writers, includes:

– Fino en Rama Cruz Vieja
– Drawn from a solera established around 1900, organized in four criaderas plus solera, with two sacas (withdrawals) a year.
– The bodega offers both regular bottlings and a 50th Anniversary Magnum from the founding solera, limited to 150 bottles.
– A dedicated product page notes high critic scores, including 91 points from Robert Parker, along with strong ratings in Spanish guides.

– Amontillado en Rama Cruz Vieja
– Solera dating from 1925, with roughly six years of biological ageing under flor followed by six years of oxidative ageing, according to sherry specialist coverage.

– Oloroso en Rama Cruz Vieja
– An oxidative sherry with an average age around 20 years, aged in old American oak butts.
– The bodega notes critic scores such as 91 Parker points and very high Guia Gourmets ratings in the late 2010s.

– Palo Cortado en Rama Cruz Vieja
– Approximately 15 years of ageing in total, combining an initial biological phase with long oxidative ageing.

– Pedro Ximénez en Rama Cruz Vieja
– A natural sweet sherry made from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes, fermented and aged in American oak; the technical sheet describes natural fermentation without added yeast and time on lees before prolonged ageing.

Together, these wines form a complete snapshot of the classic Jerez styles, all produced in small volumes and bottled with minimal intervention.

### Special Bottlings and Whites

Beyond the core solera sherries, the bodega also highlights:

– Oloroso Reserva Fundacional 1789 – a special release drawn from three historic butts that trace back to the 1789 solera acquired from the Alcázar, launched as a high-end, very old bottling.
– Cream Cruz Vieja – a sweetened blend in the traditional Cream style (documented by sherry specialists as part of the range).
– Blanco Palomino & Blanco Pedro Ximénez – still white wines made from grapes grown on the family’s own “El Carmen de Montealegre” vineyard (about 7 hectares), using Palomino and Pedro Ximénez respectively.

Critic recognition is a recurring theme: the Cruz Vieja range appears in Spanish wine guides and has accumulated multiple scores above 90 points from different panels, as the bodega itself summarizes.

(Internal link idea: strong crossover with any site content on “Understanding Sherry Styles” or a Palomino grape explainer.)

—

## Visiting Bodegas Faustino González

### Booking and Contact

This is a small, working bodega, so visits are by prior arrangement rather than mass group tours.

Multiple official and tourism sources consistently show the same contact details:

– Address: Calle Barja 1, 11402–11403 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
– Phone: +34 626 990 482 and +34 622 646 363
– Email: [email protected]
– Website: bodegasfaustinogonzalez.com

TripAdvisor’s owner responses emphasize that visits and tastings are offered with prior reservation, and that any food pairings (tapas, snacks) are only available if requested in advance, as the bodega does not have a permanent kitchen.

Important for accuracy:
– Opening days and hours listed on third-party sites change over time and sometimes conflict. Treat any static timetable you see online as provisional and confirm directly with the bodega by email or phone before you go.

### What the Visit Is Like

Official tourism descriptions and specialist articles outline a fairly consistent experience:

– Small-group, guided visits – The aim is explicitly to “show visitors the world of creating Sherry wines and the unique, complex system of ageing by blending vintages” (the traditional solera and criadera system).
– Family involvement – Jaime González, a member of the family, is frequently mentioned in articles and event write-ups as the person leading tastings and representing the bodega at sherry events in Spain and abroad.
– Tastings in the cellar – Visitors typically taste several Cruz Vieja wines drawn from casks or recent bottlings in the bodega’s traditional nave and patio areas, surrounded by old butts and the characteristic high, timbered roof.

Some events in the late 2010s combined cata maridaje (tasting with food pairings) and thematic tastings, such as San Fermín celebrations or international Sherry Week collaborations with The Sherry Club of Tokyo.

Outdated data flag: These specific event dates, menus, and prices (for example, 30–35€ cata maridaje menus from 2017–2018) are clearly historic and should not be treated as current offers without checking directly with the bodega.

### Accessibility and Inclusivity Considerations

– The bodega is housed in a historic structure that was once stables, with traditional floors and architecture.
– There is no detailed, up-to-date public information on step-free access, accessible toilets, or other specific facilities. To avoid assumptions, the safest approach is to contact the bodega in advance if anyone in your group has mobility or sensory needs.
– Reviews and write-ups consistently mention a welcoming, personal atmosphere for visitors from Spain and abroad, which suggests they’re used to hosting international guests, but language options (beyond Spanish) are not formally specified in official materials.

—

## How Bodegas Faustino González Fits into a Jerez Trip

Bodegas Faustino González has enough depth to anchor a dedicated sherry day, but it also works beautifully as part of a broader Jerez itinerary.

A few context points that are firmly grounded:

– The bodega appears in official regional and local tourism listings as a recommended wine-tourism stop in Jerez.
– In October 2025, a major Spanish media outlet highlighted Bodega Faustino González among six key places to “eat, drink and love Jerez” in the lead-up to Jerez being named Spanish Capital of Gastronomy 2026. SER

That combination—historic soleras, artisanal en rama sherries, and official recognition in current gastronomy coverage—makes it a strong choice if you want to:

– Go beyond large-scale visitor centers and experience a small, family cellar still deeply connected to Jerez’s traditional production methods. Wine
– Taste a full spectrum of sherry styles in one place, from bone-dry barrel-fermented Fino to very old Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez.
– Anchor a walking route through Barrio de San Miguel, combining sherry with historic churches, flamenco venues, and classic tabancos listed by local tourism and TripAdvisor as nearby points of interest.

—

## Practical Takeaways Before You Go

To keep everything as accurate and future-proof as possible:

Key Highlights

Bodegas Faustino Gonzalez

Location

Places to Stay Near Bodegas Faustino Gonzalez

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides