"If feelings fail you, vain will be your course, and idle what you plan unless your art springs from the soul with elemental force."
Agustin Huneeus:
Behind every great wine stands a passionate vintner. Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the creation of Agustin Huneeus and it continues to satisfy his long held desire to produce a wine that embodies the most seductive characteristics of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Born in Santiago, Chile, Agustin is one of the few vintners who has dedicated his entire professional life to wine. With a career spanning 50 years, he has produced wine in more than 15 countries. Perhaps best known today for creating Quintessa, the stunning biodynamic vineyard and winery estate he and his wife Valeria own in Rutherford, Napa Valley, Agustin is recognized as a driving force in how fine wine is produced, recognized, sold and marketed in the United States. The philosophy that great vineyards make great wine is his guiding principle.
CHARLES THOMAS:
Charles Thomas joined the Faust team as head winemaker in 2007. His storied career includes some of the most highly regarded wineries in the industry including Robert Robert Mondavi Winery, Domaine Chandon, Cardinale, Rudd and Quintessa.
Charles embarked on his journey into the world of winemaking, starting literally from the ground up as he was studying at the University of California, Berkeley. His early experiences include installing vineyard irrigation systems throughout Napa and parts of Sonoma, operating presses and tending vineyards for Domaine Chandon, leading tours at Robert Mondavi Winery and buying the wines for the Sonoma Cheese Company.
In 1978, Charles joined Robert Mondavi Winery's production department moving through positions including barrel enologist, senior enologist and assistant winemaker. After gaining a thorough knowledge of every aspect of winemaking he was promoted to head winemaker. He assisted in the creation, execution and evolution of Opus One from 1979 through 1994.
In 1994, Charles moved to Jackson Family Farms where he worked closely with the rebuilding of Cardinale’s vineyards and winemaking techniques. From there, he joined Rudd in 2002 where he directed changes to both the winery and vineyards. As of June 2007, he has been the head winemaker at Quintessa. Charles lives on Napa Valley’s Mount Veeder at the vineyard property he shares with his wife, Lily.
Partnerships:
Agustin Huneeus has been discovering great vineyards of the world throughout a career spanning five decades and 15 countries. In addition to owning the Quintessa estate in the renowned Rutherford District of Napa Valley, his current vineyard and winery projects include Illumination Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Veramonte winery in Chile’s Casablanca and Colchagua Valley’s, Neyen winery in Chile’s Apalta Valley and Washington’s Longshadows Vintners where he is a partner. In 2009, the Huneeus family forged a partnership with Joan and Walt Flowers of Flowers Vineyards & Winery, pioneering vintners who in 1989, established two extraordinary vineyards dedicated to world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the extreme Sonoma Coast. In 2010, the Huneeus family partnered with winemaker Dave Phinney and Orin Swift Cellars to handle sales and marketing of two edgy wines, The Prisoner, a Napa Valley red blend, and Saldo, a Zinfandel from some of California’s most revered vineyards.
