Our Winemaker
Marbue Marke is the winemaker for Faustini Wines. His extensive experience in the wine industry is taking Faustini's Wines to the next level. His cutting edge barrel fermentation program along with his knowledge of the barrel cooperage business, adds additional complexity to our program while maintaining our distinct style. Marbue continues to refine the quality of our wines and is the original winemaker for our limited production bottling of "1023".
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Marbue moved to California in 1992 to live with his father. Drawing on joyful evenings he spent getting sips of French wine from his grandfather, Marbue decided to pursue the study of Enology at U.C. Davis.
During his 1997 harvest internship at J Wine Company (Jordan Sparkling Wine Company), Marbue fell in love with the teamwork and accomplishment of surviving harvest so much so that he decided to make winemaking a career. After graduating from U.C. Davis in 1998 with a B.S. in Fermentation Science, he started his career as an Enologist and Assistant Winemaker at Cosentino Winery in the Napa Valley and then proceeded to R.H. Phillips Winery as a Barrel Enologist. In 2001, Marbue settled in at Benziger Family Winery where the philosophy of “farming for flavors” and Vineyard designated focus resonated with him. As the Associate Winemaker/Facility Manager, he was responsible for White winemaking and managed the Sonoma County line Barrel and Production Facility. A self-described “student of wine” who believes in continuous improvement, he received his MBA in 2005 from Sonoma State University with a thesis on the Success Practices and Challenges of California Wineries in Exporting. During this time he was active in the California Enological Research Association, serving as Chairman of the Barrel Committee in 2003 and Chairman of the Bottling Committee in 2004.
Longing to experience a variety of winemaking environments, after his MBA Marbue moved to E. & J. Gallo Winery where he was the delicate varietals Program Winemaker (e.g. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio) and worked on special projects (including the inaugural Barefoot Cellars Pinot Grigio and inaugural Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato). After two successful seasons at Gallo, he decided to return to his true passion of pursuing ultra premium wines with a vineyard focus, which is exactly what we are all about at Faustini Wines.
We are lucky to have Marbue as our winemaker and can't wait to share the wines we produce under his consult with all of you.