Over 135 years crafting
Rioja’s story
The meaning
OF ORIGIN
That we’ve thrived here for 135+ years is testament to our predecessors’ extraordinary work. We honour their legacy with deep respect – their commitment inspires us to build Bodegas Franco-Españolas’ future with equal dedication.
Borja Eguizábal – Third Generation of the Eguizábal Family and CEO of Bodegas Franco-Españolas.
THE SOUL
OF OUR PAST
Our founder, Frederick d’Anglade Saurat, of Bordeaux’s Maison Anglade, was a French négociant and winemaker who, with the help of Alejo Lepine Saurat and Spanish partners, established one of Rioja’s first great wineries in 1890: Bodegas Franco-Españolas.
Thus began the era of ‘fine Rioja wines’. Born from Franco-Spanish collaboration amid phylloxera’s devastation of French vineyards, Rioja — at its viticultural peak — was chosen for its exceptional fruit and winemaking heritage.
This Franco-Spanish partnership gave us our name: Bodegas Franco-Españolas. The first harvest, a year later, yielded the winery’s iconic wines: Diamante and Estilo Borgoña. The latter became known as Rioja Bordón in the 1950s.
…AND THE PASSION OF
OUR PRESENT
Borja Eguizábal – Third Generation of the Eguizábal Family and General Manager of Bodegas Franco-Españolas.
1984
Marcos Eguizábal and his son Carlos acquired Bodegas Franco-Españolas. Marcos, born in El Villar de Arnedo (La Rioja), grew up in a family of winegrowers and from a very young age understood the value of the land and of a job well done. Together with his children, Carlos and Rosa, he fostered a business vision that, combined with a deep knowledge of the sector, allowed them to consolidate the winery and reinforce its innovative character in Rioja, taking their wines beyond our borders and contributing to the development of the region.
2000
the family took another step with the creation of Bodegas Valparaíso, in the Ribera del Duero D.O.. They then opted for high-altitude vineyards in the Pesquera plateau, anticipating the trend in one of the region’s most prized areas. There, in what is known as “The Garden of the Riverbank,” they broadened their understanding of wine and enriched their family project.
2026
Today, Carlos and Rosa continue to drive the winery forward from the Board of Directors, keeping its innovative spirit alive. Since 2016, Borja Eguizábal, Carlos’s son, has led the project as General Manager, bringing a renewed vision and international experience that continues to shape the path of Franco-Españolas and its great wines, such as Bordón and Diamante.