Eduardo Urrestarazu Miñaur

How did you get into the wine business?

Before getting into the wine business, I worked in several business sectors, but I lived in Rioja, Spain’s main wine-growing region, so I think that it was just a question of time.

Do you remember your first experience with wine?

When I was 7 years old, my grandfather would take me to walk in the mountains with my brothers. After a two-hour walk, to recover our strength on the way back, we stopped and ate at a small bar. My grandfather ordered some wine, and sodas for us. One of my big brothers complained because he wouldn’t serve us wine, and to hold us quiet, my grandfather poured a few drops in our drinks. It only brought a small dose of alcohol to the soda, but we did the rest of the walk happier. We felt like adults and important!

Is there anything special you would like to tell us about your winery, your labels…?

Franco Españolas is a historic bodega of Rioja, with more than 125 years of history, with good times and some other more difficult times, like wars... It’s a family-owned Bodega belonging to the Equizabal Family. Our wines are classic, with a strong sense of identity. Our main brands are “Bordón” and “Diamante”. We are currently going through a generational change, with a renewed team, motivated by new challenges.

How did you hear about H&A?

A little before I integrated with the Bodega, I had a first contact with H&A for negotiating a contract of new barrel management.

What do you appreciate about the H&A services program?

I think that H&A offers great services to Bodegas, not only for the financial services they propose, but also for the used barrel management. Their services make our life easier, so we can focus on our wine. Moreover, contacts with the staff are excellent.