Autumn’s Palette: A Harvest of Wines Inspired by Latin Heritage

2023 Fall Collection

Autumn’s Palette. This season, our curation is a global tapestry, rich in diversity, steeped in history, heritage and hearth. We hope you feel as at home with this incredible collection of wines as we do.

In homage to the remarkable producers and winemakers from Latin, Mexican-American, Hispanic, Brazilian, Iberian, and other underrepresented cultures
and communities in the industry, we are delighted to spotlight wines from a variety of distinctive regions.

From the rich terroirs of Mendoza, Argentina and Maipo Valley, Chile, to the emerging wine scene in vineyards of the Valle de Parras, Mexico, and the historic Californian cultivators with Latin heritage roots, you will feast on juice that both surprises and delights you. However, we didn't stop there. Each selection captures the unique artistry and cultural contributions that make these communities invaluable to the world of viticulture.

And so, our quest for exceptional wines knows no borders. From the crisp whites of Austria, crafted by visionary female producers, to the boutique selections sourced by a passionate Black American importer in the Washington, D.C. area, we've left no stone unturned to complete the harvest.

We're thrilled to include some must haves for your autumn tables; a sparkling perfection from Brazil, and a seductive wine for gathering friends from South Africa, timeless classics from Italy and a surprise from Portugal. You will of course need to sip on some avant-garde creations for your Thanksgiving feast by a winemaker in Finger Lakes, NY and a Black American producer in Maryland who makes mouth-watering wine! Our portfolio is further enriched and feels complete by these contributions rounding out a collection that celebrates the mosaic of winemaking, once again bringing us to home and hearth this season through the joy of diverse tastes.

As Autumn graces us with its vivid hues and festive celebrations—from Halloween's playful haunts to the warmth of Thanksgiving gatherings—we encourage you to explore, celebrate, and savor this extraordinary line-up. May each bottle not only complement your seasonal celebrations but also serve as a tribute to the diverse, talented hands that crafted them and passionate people who make it possible to savor.

Thank you for being a part of this adventure with us, and sharing in our diverse cultural table of flavors and the amazing people who make it possible. Here's to a Fall filled with good wine, good food, and even better company!

Salud y amor, The Wine Concierge Team

Meet the people behind the wines.

Fall Collection's Guest Curator; Desiree Harrison-Brown

"In crafting this collection, we aim to bridge the gap between these hidden gems. The profound stories and traditions that shape these wines can sometimes get lost between the vineyard and the bottle. It is our mission to shine a spotlight on this diversity and cultural richness....As we transition from the scorching summer days to the cozy embrace of autumn, our selections are tailored to complement this transition. These wines, with their versatility and depth, are perfect for both leisurely warm evenings and the heartier, more robust meals that autumn brings."

Desiree's Selections
Desiree Harrison-Brown

Wine Educator, Entrepreneur & Esteemed Industry Professional

A Warm Greeting To You!

I am thrilled to welcome you to our Autumn's Palette wine collection, a harvest of wines inspired by Latin heritage. This collection has been thoughtfully curated with a rich tapestry of experiences, desires, and inspirations in mind, and I am eager to share the story behind these exceptional selections.

This collection was born out of my own travels and experiences, driven by a desire to spotlight wines from regions that often lie beyond the familiar boundaries of the US market and to showcase women who are making waves in the industry. Through this collection, we aim to shed light on vibrant, diverse, and often underrepresented wines.

Throughout my travels, I have had the privilege of tasting wines from talented, diverse winemakers. These wines, often characterized by their limited production, distribution challenges, and insufficient awareness in the United States, can be hard to find and share in the US.

During my recent journey to Argentina, I was captivated by the breathtaking landscapes, cuisine, and extraordinary wines that the country had to offer. Argentina, it turns out, is a treasure trove of culinary and oenological delights, extending far beyond the realm of the renowned Malbec grape variety.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's not just the bold and robust reds that steal the show. The country's vineyards also boast thriving white grape varieties like Semillon, which add a delightful and refreshing dimension to the wine scene. This revelation has fueled our excitement to include "El Enemigo Semillon" in the collection.

I also had the privilege of exploring the charming town of Orvieto, Italy, where history and culture intertwine. The picturesque landscapes, rich heritage, and warm hospitality of Orvieto make it a wonder why more people aren’t drinking the wines from this region. "Barbi Orvieto Classico Abboccato" is an excellent gateway to all that is to be discovered in Orvieto.

In all my travels, I’ll never forget where I come from—the great state of Maryland, where the wine scene continues to grow. Loew Vineyards highlight just how great Maryland wine has become.

In crafting this collection, we aim to bridge the gap between these hidden gems. The profound stories and traditions that shape these wines can sometimes get lost between the vineyard and the bottle. It is our mission to shine a spotlight on this diversity and cultural richness.

As we transition from the scorching summer days to the cozy embrace of autumn, our selections are tailored to complement this transition. These wines, with their versatility and depth, are perfect for both leisurely warm evenings and the heartier, more robust meals that autumn brings. They embody Latin warmth and hospitality, and I am confident they will bring comfort and joy to your fall nights.

I invite you to embark on this journey of discovery, to savor each bottle with an open heart and an open mind, and to celebrate the vibrant Latin heritage that flows through our glasses. May this collection be a testament to the beauty of diversity in wine!

Cheers, Desiree

Antiyal Wines

Maipo Valley, Chile

The Premiere Collection - 2018 Kuyen Proprietary Red

Located in the Maipo Valley, Antiyal was founded in 1996 by Alvaro Espinoza and his partner Marina Ashton. Once considered the country’s original “garage” winery, Antiyal is now established as one of the best producers in all of Chile. Espinoza himself is considered one of the finest winemakers today in all of South America as well as one of the foremost biodynamic winemakers in the world.

In 1996, winemaker Alvaro Espinoza and his family started Antiyal, trying to fulfill a family dream that existed for decades. This dream was a deep desire to make personal, handcrafted, instinctively-guided wines with the conviction to express the noble soils of Alto del Maipo.

Alvaro and his wife Marina started their project and planted a little more than one acre of Cabernet Sauvignon in Huelquen, at the foothills of the Andes, in the town of Alto Jahuel, Alto de Maipo. giving birth to one of Chile’s first biodynamic vineyards.

"Antiyal" is a Mapuche word that means "sons of the sun," in honor of Alvaro's use of the cosmos in his biodynamic practice.

His conversion to biodynamic farming in 1998 propelled him to the top of winemaking in Chile, and his successes have secured his place as one of the foremost authorities on expressing the potential and importance of the terroir in the Southern Hemisphere. The Biodynamic approach was chosen in order to provide a more authentic expression of the individuality of each terroir. External agricultural input is minimized in order to create a clean and healthy environment for the plants, to bring the soil back to its natural state and express its unique conditions in the wines. Today the farm counts 20 hectares, with 12 hectares of vineyards in production and the remaining with other plants to promote biodiversity. The farm is organized as a closed (integrated) system of production with minimal inputs, aiming to respect the pure character of the place.

Kuyen is the Mapuche word for moon. The moon, just like the sun, has a deep relation with organic and biological energies. Ancient farmers knew this and they used to follow the moon cycles to farm the soil for thousands of years.

the wine

WARD FOUR WINES

Mendocino County, Ukiah District, California

The Premiere Collection - 2022 Ward Four Barbera

Justin Trabue found Ward Four Wines to pay homage to wines she grew up surrounded by at her dining room table. As her love for wine has grown, new staples have entered.

"You could say I was destined to work in wine. I am a fourth generation native of Washington, DC. I am named after JUSTIN Winery based in the town of Paso Robles. I grew up with wine on the table at dinner, my parents are lovers of wine and have always explored and traveled for it both domestically and internationally. When I was in high school my parents introduced me to a Black sommelier based out of DC, my mind was blown. To see someone who looked like me working in an industry I loved, I was hooked.

Soon after I started school at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo studying wine & viticulture, wine business. In my junior year I studied abroad in Australia, after coming back I realized I wanted to learn winemaking as well and through Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” internship opportunities I worked my first harvest. Since then I have worked 14 harvests both internationally and along the California Coast.

I founded Ward Four Wines in 2021 to create a space for BIPOC consumers interested in wine. Through my wine brand I aim to educate and create visibility for BIPOC communities regarding the wine and spirits industry. I walk the vines, pick the fruit, ferment, age and sell wines of joy!! Based in Sonoma CA, Ward Four Wines is unique in that it is a micro winery specialising in minimal intervention winemaking practices, sourcing from vineyards along the California coast that honour ethical labour guidelines while using sustainable farming methods. With less than 1% of winery owners being Black, I am a unique opportunity to show visibility and create opportunities to teach about the agricultural nature of wine."

Specializing in lesser discussed varieties and minimal intervention winemaking practices, she believes wine should be all joy, no fuss.

When she is not working on her wines, Justin can be found helping to gain interest from high school students on wine and viticulture and connecting BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ wine professionals with meaningful, community-based industry jobs. She is a big fan of horror movies, cooking at home, and her pet rats.

Each offering pays tribute to her family dynamics, showing how wine evokes emotions and how moments in time can be captured in one of life's simplest pleasures, a bottle of wine.

the wine

WEINGUT FRANZ & CHRISTINE NETZL

Göttlesbrunn, Carnuntum, Austria

The Premiere Collection - 2022 Netzl Chardonnay, Carnuntum, Austria

The Club Collection - 2020 Netzl Cuvee Red Blend, Carnuntum, Austria

The Premiere Collection - 2019 Netzl Edles Tal Red, Göttlesbrunn, Carnuntum, Austria

The Netzl farm is located in the village Göttlesbrunn in the Austrian wine region of Carnuntum and has history going back to 1860. The farm spent many years as a small multi-use farm. The shift-of-focus to grape growing happened in the 1980s when Franz and Christine Netzl took over the farm from Franz's father. Currently the farm consists of 69 acres, most of which are devoted to grape growing. In 2007 Franz and Christine's daughter Christina finished her studies in International Wine Management and Marketing and began to work with her parents at the winery. The Netzl philosophy has always been to work in unison with nature and preserve the health of the soils for future generations and with Christina's influence a soft change to organics began in 2010. Beginning with the 2018 vintage the organic certification process was started.

While red wines, specifically made from Zweigelt, make up the majority of the Netzl vineyards, visitors are consistently taken with their white wines as well. The Wines labeled with “Edles Tal”, are named after the vineyard, and it means “noble valley”.

The climate in the Carnuntum during the growing season is typically warm and dry in the late summer and fall. This combined with cooler nights and frequently steady winds, enhances the Netzls ability to make both red and white wines that show freshness, spice, structure and complexity both aromatically and on the pallet. The Danube River to the north creates the cooling effect while the Pannonian Lowlands and Lake Neusiedl to the southeast help to keep the late summer and early fall days warmer. The soils in the Netzl vineyards range from loess to gravel as well as bits of clay.

The Carnuntum region in general has a rich and interesting history that can be experienced at the Carnuntum Archaeology Park. The regional symbol is the Roman Heidentor which was unearthed at the archaeology park and dates back to the period of roughly 6-433AD when the Carnuntum was the most important Roman town on the upper Danube.

The Netzl family has lived and farmed in the very same village since 1650. Christina Netzl began her path towards natural winemaking as a young girl of 5 years old, working on her family’s farm and vineyard with her parents and grandparents. Her parents later focused the family business solely on grape growing and winemaking, building the winery up to the 28 hectares they operate today in the Carnuntum winemaking region. Her family has lived and farmed in the village since 1650. Christina studied oenology and wine management in London, helping her to better know wine styles from all over the world. In 2007, she returned to the winery to work with her parents, and after having two children became passionate about organic viticulture. In 2013, they began the process of converting everything to organics, starting with soil treatments and elimination of herbicides, followed by eliminating pesticides and 100% organic vineyard management, and then finally organic production in the winery. In 2018 they began the official process of certifying organically.

It is truly an honour to bring these wines into the portfolio and we're certain you'll enjoy them as much as we do.

The Wine

CASA MANOEL DE BOULLOSA - QUINTA DOS PESOS

Carcavelos DOC, Lisboa, Portugal

The Premiere Collection -1998 Casa Manoel Boullosa-Quinta Dos Pesos Carcavelos Fortified -Vinho Generoso

The wines of Quinta dos Pesos offer a glimpse into the long history of Carcavelos, one of Portugal's great Vinhos Generosos and perhaps its rarest wine.

Situated in the village of Caparide, west of Lisbon, the estate was acquired by Manoel de Boullosa in 1963 and its vineyards were painstakingly restored over the course of the next twenty years. In keeping with ancient tradition, a mixture of white (Arinto, Gallego Dourado, Ratinho, Rabo do Ovelha) and red grapes (João Santarem, Espadeiro Tinto) from its 3.5 hectares were co-fermented and aged in cask for many years. Winemaking operations ceased in 2005 as a result of Bullosa's untimely passing, and only a few vintages had been commercialized in limited quantities.

The remaining wines continued their long slumber until 2018, when they were tasted, selected and blended, with minimal intervention. The results were revelatory, and confirm the high esteem afforded Carcavelos over centuries.

Carcavelos is the smallest wine appellation in Portugal. Lying west of Lisbon as it stretches along the Targus estuary in search of the Atlantic, its vineyards were nearly consumed by expansion and development during the last quarter of the 20th century, until just 25 hectares—now protected—remained.

It first came to prominence in the 18th century under the Marquis de Pombal, who possessed significant vineyard holdings in the hills surrounding Oeiras and Cascais. Carcavelos quickly gained renown, when it was gifted by King Jose I of Portugal to the court of Beijing in 1752 and later was featured in Christie’s first-ever London wine auction, appearing alongside Hock, Burgundy and Malaga. Yet production remained small (relative to that of Port and Madeira), and the arrival of phylloxera in the late 19th century began Carcavelos' slow fade—even as it was officially demarcated in 1908 and recognized with Port, Moscatel de Setúbal and Madeira as one of four traditional Portuguese Vinhos Generosos.

With one active producer remaining and its bottles rarely seen beyond Portuguese borders, Carcavelos is today amongst the rarest of wines and a fortified wine unlike any other.

the wine

Kumusha Wines

Breedekloof, Western Cape, South Africa

The Club Collection - 2021 Kumusha Western Cape Cinsault Rose

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tinashe worked his way up to the position of manager at a grocery store when Zimbabwe fell into economic crisis. After moving to Cape Town in South Africa, he found work polishing cutlery at the fine dining restaurant, The Roundhouse. After being promoted to waiter and without any prior experience of wine, Tinashe learned from the beverage director, eventually landing a job as wine steward at Nobu - an establishment of the One & Only group. In 2013 he wins the Reaching for the Young Stars Best Wine Steward Award. He then works at the Oyster Box hotel in Durban, before returning to Cape Town to become the head sommelier at The Test Kitchen.

While at The Test Kitchen, the restaurant ranksin the top 50 best restaurants in the world and best restaurant in Africa.

In 2016 Tinashe wins the Eat Out Wine Service Award. Throughout all of this time he works hard on achieving:

  • A diploma from the Cape Wine Academy
  • His WEST Level 3
  • A certificate from the Court Of Master Sommeliers Europe
  • A certificate in Wine Business Management from the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business
  • A Micheal Fridjohn Wine Judging Academy certificate

Having fallen head over heels for wine, the ache to try his own hand at winemaking could not be resisted. A friendship with Attie Louw, a winemaker from the family estate Opstal in the Slanghoek valley, led to the opportunity for Tinashe to blend his own wines and in 2017 Kumusha wines was founded.

Nyamudoka demonstrates a passion that goes beyond the race of the winemaker, to a product that elicits emotion and an experience. He says, “Kumusha is like packing the culture [into a bottle].” 

Nyamudoka’s journey in the wine industry is a remarkable story of passion, persistence, and hard work. He is working to positively impact the environment and the local community and is always looking for new ways to innovate and improve his products. Nyamudoka is ready to become a noteworthy player in the wine industry. With his continued dedication and entrepreneurial spirit, we can expect more from Nyamudoka and Kumusha Wines in the future.

The inspiration for the name Kumusha, which translates to “home” in Shona, one of the most widely spoken languages spoken in Zimbabwe, was derived from Nyamudoka’s fond appreciation for the book Liquid Memory by award-winning filmmaker and former sommelier, Jonathan Nossiter. 

“I vividly remember one of the chapters where he was discussing wine of origin… we know [wine of origin] in the sense of where the wine is coming from, but what if you’ve never been there? You’ve never been to Mosel. You’ve never been to Vouvray,” says Tinashe. “How do you even conceptualize it? Why can’t wine of origin be where the wine takes you? And this wine is always taking me home, so that’s my wine of origin.”

the wine

Whispering Grapes Imports

Locally Distributed, Washington, D.C. Metro Area

The Club Collections-

Grappoli Wines - NV Grappoli Bianco, Lombardia, IGP Provincia di Pavia, Italy

Sussurri Di Vino-Verified Wines- 2019 Sussurri Chianti Classico Riserva D.O.C.G, Italy

Whispering Grapes is a D.C., Maryland & Virginia local area importer and distributor. She is a female owned minority business and we love her portfolio so much, we will be bringing in many of her other wines for our regular retail collection, available to everyone! Here is a bit about Dameka and Whispering Gpapes and the producers / winemakers who cultivates the wines Dameka selects:

Dameka Mack is an entrepreneur with a passion for Italian culture and a deep appreciation for the art of winemaking. With a background in business and a heart full of dreams, she embarked on a journey to bring the rich traditions of Tuscan wine making to a global audience.

Dameka's love for wine began during a transformative trip to the sun-kissed vineyards of Tuscany. There, amidst the rolling hills and centuries-old estates, she fell under the spell of the whispering vines. This profound connection ignited a fire within her to share the magic of Tuscan wine with the world.

In pursuit of her dream, Dameka came onboard with Feroz Daud and Kumar Tuteja to Whispering Grapes, Inc., a boutique Italian Tuscan Wine Company dedicated to producing exceptional wines that reflect the true essence of the region. With an unwavering commitment to quality, sustainability, and authenticity, Whispering Grapes, Inc. has quickly gained recognition as a beacon of excellence in the world of fine wines.

Dameka's vision for Whispering Grapes, Inc. is deeply rooted in a respect for tradition, a reverence for the land, and an unwavering dedication to the craft. She believes that each bottle of wine tells a story, carrying with it the whispers of generations of passionate winemakers.

 Whispering Grapes, Inc. has established itself as a brand synonymous with uncompromising quality. From meticulously selected grapes to the careful aging process, every step of production is guided by a desire to create wines that not only satisfy the palate but also stir the soul.

Dameka's influence extends beyond the vineyards. She is an advocate for sustainable practices in winemaking and is committed to supporting local communities in the regions where her grapes are grown. Her dedication to preserving the environment and nurturing the communities around her reflects her holistic approach to business.

With a heart full of passion and a determination to make her mark in the world of fine wines, Dameka Mack is poised to lead Whispering Grapes, Inc. to even greater heights. Her unwavering pursuit of excellence and her love for the whispering vines of Tuscany continue to inspire all who have the pleasure of experiencing her exceptional wines.

Coli is the family of producers who Dameka imports from. The winemaking tradition of the Coli family began in 1926 when the brothers Pietro and Giovanni Coli founded their business on the outskirts of Florence.
They identified the ideal place to start, in that area where the horizon widens and opens towards the Chianti hills in a sequence of small soft reliefs eroded by time.

A land rich in sediments that millions of years ago was a seabed. A territory that nature had shaped to give life to excellent vineyards and superior class wines.

The two Coli brothers began their business by scouring the territory in search of the most typical wines.

We must say, they have perfected the craft of everyday wine with the highest of quality, standard and focus on tradition.

the wines

PODERE BARBI

Orvieto Classico Abboccato DOC, Umbria, Italy

The Club Collection - 2021 Barbi Orvieto Classico Abboccato DOC

The Barbi winery was founded in 1932, and since the beginning Enzo Barbi strived for quality and the brand became renowned. The estate is located in Baschi while the commercial headquarters are in Roncadelle. For the Barbi family wine is continuous research, experimentation and co-operation both with nature & technology resulting in truly remarkable wines. Besides overseeing their own production, the Barbi family chooses and buys must and grapes from selected growers on a contract basis, and a team of skilled technicians supervise the advanced method of vinification & refining.

The company’s production philosophy leans towards the use of indigenous varietals of central Italy, even though lately, in a couple of wines, two international varietals have been employed.

The sand and clay soils are filled with fossilized shells. Several of the wines from this estate set the bar for the regjon. The white wines are all well made examples of Orvieto Classico and Orvieto superiore. An Orvieto Classico Bianco must be made from at least 60 percent Grechetto and/or Procanico (the local name for Trebbiano Toscano). The wines can vary in terms of sweetness. The Abboccato is a semi-sweet to off-dry white. The Abboccato refers to "mouthful".

The vineyards are on the top of a hill, at a height of about 300 mt above sea level, in an area called “ I Poggi di Baschi,” well known for producing great wines.

The soil can be clayey , marly or tufaceous, sometimes with small pebbles ; surprisingly enough, is also rich in fossils , generating a high mineral content ideal for obtaining a consistent acidity in the white wines. The vineyards cover slopes exposed to the south east and south west.

The Barbi family is originally from Brescia where to this day they operate a large negociant business. Enzo’s aunt manages the Podere Barbi and the wine for this estate is still bottled in Brescia.

the wine

CASA VALDUGA

Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil

The Club Collection - 2020 Dom Maria Brazilian Brut

At the end of the 19th century, in 1875, the first immigrants of the Famiglia Valduga landed in Brazil. Coming from the city of Rovereto, in northern Italy, they cultivated the first vineyards in the heart of what is now Vale dos Vinhedos, thus beginning the legacy of one of the most renowned names in Brazilian vitiviniculture.

From the first Valduga, who left Italy and came to America, to the 3rd generation, which today manages Casa Valduga, these values are still present and can be appreciated by those who dive into this enchanting world full of stories to tell.

Founded in 1875, Casa Valduga is one of the oldest winemaking houses in Brazil. Still a family business after six generations, the company now occupies a huge site in the stunning Vale dos Vinhedos.

Dom Maria is a collaboration between entrepreneur and CEO Nick Walker, creative director Guilherme Junqueira, and Design Studio Aparelho, who worked to produce wines that capture life’s simple daily moments that are often overlooked, as well as the essence of their vibrant home country of Brazil. The result is a selection of casual, vintage Brazilian sparkling wines that are as versatile as Brazil itself, and fresh enough to be enjoyed at any time of day or night, helping to make the small moments memorable.

"When we decided to produce a vintage Brazilian sparkling wine, we wanted it to be as versatile as our country and fresh enough to enjoy any time of the day. That’s casual for us."

Casa Valduga was the obvious choice. Their most famous for the methode champenoise sparkling wine, which was produced to mark Valduga’s 130th anniversary. The (true) story goes that President Sarkozy of France, when offered the 130 by his then counterpart, former President Lula of Brazil, complemented him on ‘an excellent choice of Champagne’!

To build the best winery in Brazil. With the help of his sons, tradition was combined with the most modern techniques for the production of fine wines. The investments in technology grew and the recognition made Casa Valduga one of the most appreciated wineries in Brazil. Today a symbol of excellence, the family winery continues to be commanded by the brothers Erielso, Juarez and João Valduga, who together with their children continue to transmit their passion for wine. "Philosophy:
“Before you make two bottles of wine, make one, but well made.” -Luiz Valduga

The Dom Maria Brut is a classic, traditional representation of all the life, love and sparkle that is Brazil and wine.

the wine

VIÑA COUSIÑO-MACUL

Maipo Valley, Chile

The Club Collection - 2022 Cousiño-Macul Isidora Sauvignon Gris

Among the oldest Chilean Houses, Cousiño Macul is the only one to have remained in the hands of the direct descendants of the founder, Matias Cousiño.The Domaine owes its name to him, associated with that of the region (Macul) where he settled in the heart of Maipo, bringing back his first ungrafted grape varieties from across the Atlantic.

Founded in 1856, Cousiño-Macul is the only 19th century winery in Chile that remains in the hands of the original founding family. All Cousiño-Macul reserve wines are estate grown, vinted and bottled. After seven generations and over 150 years, Cousiño-Macul’s mission rings clear - to produce world-class wines that are unmistakably Chilean, carrying the distinctive character of the Maipo Valley. They can proudly say that they are the only vineyard in Chile established during the 19th century that still belongs entirely to the founding family, a characteristic that has marked the identity of their company and the personality of the wines.

The wines capture the essence of Chile's winemaking tradition, dating back more than 500 years to a territory that in colonial times was designated by order of the King of Spain for the production of country and muscatel strains, in order to supply wine to the Eucharist and part of Chilean society. The person in charge of fulfilling this mission was Juan Jufré, Spanish conquistador and former owner of the land where the Macul property is located today.

It took 300 years until Matías Cousiño acquired the 1,000 hectares of Hacienda Macul in 1856. It was there, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, that this fertile territory fed by the Las Perdices springs and the San Carlos canal, was established. It became the first foundation of what would later be a successful family business founded by Luis Cousiño together with his wife Isidora Goyenechea, after the death of his father Don Matías Cousiño.

Upon inheriting the lands of the Macul property, the Cousiño Goyenechea couple set out to realize their family dream of starting wine production, so they decided to renew the vines that were cultivated at that time and bring the first famous vines of the vineyard from France. that to this day are part of our DNA. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were imported from the Pauillac region, Sauvignon Verde and Gris from the Martillac region and Riesling from Alsace, the latter an exclusive white grape variety personally selected by Doña Isidora. Isidora is a wine inspired by one of the founders of Cousiño Macul, Isidora Goyenechea, a 19th century businesswoman who revolutionized the wine industry in Chile.The Sauvignon Gris cuttings were brought from the Graves region, in Bordeaux;With the passage of time and our selection methods we have seen how it has adapted in an extraordinary way to the Maipo Valley.

The lead Enologist and humble, low key winemaker, Rosario Palma Corrales, speaks through her wines. A graduate of the Pontifical University,  Rosario Palma Corralles has held several esteemed positions at renowned wineries around the world. After studying agronomy with a specialty in Enology, Rosario joined the Cousino-Macul team early in her career from 2003-2004.  She also worked the alternate 30-04 season in Oakville, for Kendall Jackson. She then went on to work for Borsao, as well as various wine regions in Spain, Italy, France and Germany. 

Rosario came back to the winery in 2012 and in late 2018 succeeded Gabriel Mustakis as the Head Winemaker.

"At Cousiño Macul we are convinced of the importance of preserving the traditions that have forged our history, but always with an innovative spirit to adapt to the new demands of the industry."

the wine

Boyd Cru Wines

Poolesville, Maryland

The Premiere Collection - 2022 Boyd Cru Community Vidal Blanc

They say it best....

Boyd Cru Wines is unique because it is the first Black family owned wine company in Maryland. We are also one of the few wine companies that is taking a nontraditional approach to wines where we focus on the varietal of the wine and the authenticity, the creativity, and the blending of wines. We want our customers to be met with an experience when purchasing or tasting a bottle of Boyd Cru Wine. It’s not just about the wine. It’s about the complete experience.

The Cru in Boyd Cru Wines means growth. The impetus to start our wine journey which led to Boyd Cru Wines came in the middle of the pandemic after losing two loved ones suddenly and way too soon, my husband’s mother and my nephew. This made us realize that life is short and that now is the time to really follow our dreams as a family and build community and connection that became so sorely missed during the pandemic . Out of a desire to step out on faith and grow through our experiences with wine and how it has always been a part of our most memorable life’s moments, our journey with owning a wine business began. Our mission statement is at the center of our company, our customers and our employees is GROWTH. Values: We are committed to G-Growth, R-Respect, O-Ownership, W-Warmth, T-Transparency, H-Heart.

Making the decision to source all of our grapes as well as produce and manufacture our wine local to Maryland was very much intentional. Maryland has not been as known for their wines and vineyards as it’s counterpart right across the bridge, Virginia. However Maryland has a growing wine scene that is on the rise and many of the wineries and vineyards are producing quality wines. We hope with the addition of Boyd Cru Wines that we continue to enhance that. Manufacturing a product requires attention to a lot of details from the type of bottle selected, the labels, whether the bottle will receive a screw top cap or a cork. This is where working with good quality partnerships really helps. They are able to guide you along the way as well as ward off mistakes sometimes before they happen. We highly recommend doing your homework first about what you are looking for in a manufacturer partner and making sure your goals align will make things go smoother and create a win-win for all parties involved.

Boyd Cru Wines was conceived out of a desire to honor the legacy of our roots and ancestry that has come before us as well as the lineage of our family through our two sons, their children they will have some day and their grandchildren that will come after them as well as the extension of our community. Matthew and Jon’ll both grew up around entrepreneurship as well as with parents and grandparents who believed in serving and impacting the community. Matthew’s grandfather owned multiple plots of land and property in Indianapolis, IN at a time when that was certainly not the norm for African Americans. Jon’ll’s grandmother simultaneously was running of the first and largest chains of hair salons for women of color, Ruffin Stages which was later changed to Hair In Stages. As the old saying goes “representation matters” and although when considering entering the wine industry and starting our own winery we noticed there was a lack of diversity, it was the innovation and history of what our ancestors were able to accomplish and what they stood for that gave us the faith and the courage to move forward and launch our wine company just this April 2023. Our ultimate goal is to own and operate a stand alone vineyard with a community marketplace and incubator for entrepreneurs and small businesses who are just starting their business. We want them to have the community, support and a place where they can call home to their new business until they are ready to branch out into their own brick and mortar just like we did. It’s the foundation that’s most important when it comes to building for the future. Our legacy will be one of community, culture and connection.

the wine

BODEGA RIVERO GONZALEZ-RGMX WINERY

Valle de Parras, Mexico

The Premiere Collection - 2020 RGMX Blanco

The Club Collection - 2020 RGMX Scielo Tinto

Very few people realize that the oldest continually operating winery in all of the Americas (North, Central, and South America) is in Mexico. Established in 1597,Casa Madero(originally Bodega San Lorenzo), was assigned a land grant in theValle de Parras, Coahuilain northern Mexico to plant vines and produce wine, as authorized by King Philip II of Spain. But even fewer people realize that the number of wineries in Mexico has quadrupled in the past decade, and that many of them are adopting sustainable farming practices. The second largest producing wine region in Mexico is the state ofCoahuila.

Rivero González winery is a family-owned wine company originally from the Valley of Parras, Coahuila. Just like their ancestors, they love this land and know it like the back of their own hands. The first vineyard was born in 1998 and the first wine to be marketed was Rivero González red in 2004. The winery prides itself on its wines, stating explicitly that wine is only good enough for sale if it is a wine they would share with family and close friends.

Bodega Rivero González winery is one of the most prestigious vineyards in Parras Coahuila. The company is proud of its 100% Mexican artisanal products, and committed to the conservation of the environment, has sustainable processes, in addition to collaborating with the development of the community of Parras.

With each harvest, from the farmers who care for the wines to the different enologists who work with the winery year after year, the team prides itself on its locally produced wines that are both environmentally and socially responsible. Embraced by a community that wants to share the sincerest flavors of their land with the world, and that celebrates every drop of wine produced, quoting “Friends make Rivero González wines for Friends”.

Rivero González herself was an adventurer, and transformed her father’s vineyard in Parras, Coahuila, which he began simply as his treasured hobby in 1998 into a successful commercial business, RGMX.

With over 100 acres in the Valle de Parras now, Rivero-González family has expanded their visions and Maria is blazing trails.

the wine

Seis Soles Wine Co.

Napa-Lodi, California

The Premiere Collection - 2019 Seis Soles SolTIERRA

Chris launched Seis Soles Wine co. in 2020 because he saw that many Latinos, we’re curious about wine and wine culture but often expressed that they didn’t feel welcome in wine spaces. This didn’t surprise Chris, and he began to realize that he could be part of a change that makes wine less exclusive and demystifies the steps that it takes to go from being curious about wine to becoming a wine fan. He launched Seis Soles as a side job and now he works the brand full-time.

The labels and wine styles are heavily influenced by Chris's ever-evolving understanding of the relationship between wine and Latinos living in California. That means the wines focus is heavily on flavor profiles that I think work best in a community with a rich cuisine but limited wine experience.

An great question we stumbled upon that Chris was asked:

WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTOR IN YOUR CAREER? WHY? Joseph Smith. He's taught me how to make wine while always encouraging me to learn more so I can make wine myway. He’s shown me the benefit of collaborating and seeking out the opinions of others as a means to make great wine, every time. We both stumbled into the wine industry and took very unconventional routes to becoming winemakers, but we're better for it. I’d like to pay him back by teaching another wine “misfit” the ropes and by helping to create access to our industry to a more diverse segment of the population.

"My parents immigrated from central México where the Aztecs believed the world had been created and destroyed in four cycles, giving way to life under the fifth sun. Seis Soles, the sixth sun, represents the growth of our generation's culture and values. 

Every person, regardless of their skin color, belief system or geographic location, lives under the 6th Sun. Seis Soles respects tradition but strives to promote the new. A new understanding of how we all are in this together, promoting a healthy planet and a new way to think about wine. 

 Drawing from my experience I have created four wines that express my winemaking sensibilities. Important to me is the transparency of flavors, and the way wine fits into our lives. For this reason, my wines are very expressive, they’re both lively and balanced and offer a wide range of appeal. Seis Soles Wines are made to be enjoyed with a meal and as an accompaniment to life."

!Salud!  Chris Rivera

the wine

MELANIE PFISTER WINE

Alsace, Bas-Rhin, Fance

The Premiere Collection - 2021 Pfister Rendez-Vous En Blanc

Mélanie is the 8th generation of her family to run the Pfister wine business. She’s based in the village of Dahlenheim, in the northern part of Alsace and just west of Strasbourg.

Domaine Pfister began life in 1780 during our Revolutionary War. That seems a long time ago, until you learn that Pfister’s village of Dahlenheim was favorably noted for wine production in the distant year of 884. A written record has survived, detailing how the village supplied wine to the Abbey of Saint Michel de Honan during that era. Dahlenheim was an important center of wine production throughout the Middle Ages as well. It’s located due west of Strasbourg in the northern reaches of the Bas Rhin (legally, the Bas Rhin is a separate department from the Haut Rhin, and means, simply, lower down the Rhine River—keeping in mind that the Rhine flows north to the Baltic).This is Riesling country. 

If you like wines marked above all by purity of fruit, elegance, and character (to say nothing of reasonable pricing), you have come to the right place. Mélanie and her father farm 43 parcels totaling ten hectares (twenty-five acres) of vines, twenty-five percent of which is in Riesling. Mélanie “officially” took over from her father with the 2006 vintage, but dad is far from retiring. He very proudly has got his daughter’s back, and works the vines as hard as he ever did. He just no longer sweats the cellar work.

Leading up to that transition, Mélanie did internships at the following estates: Zind-Humbrecht (Alsace), Méo-Camuzet (Burgundy), Château Cheval Blanc (Saint Emilion), Château d’Yquem (Sauternes) and Craggy Range (New Zealand). It’s worth considering that most aspiring winemakers would take it as a fine feather in the cap to be accepted into any one of those training programs, and Mélanie got into all of them. In 2005, she made the first Cuvée 8 (now called Mel), a blended wine that she had long envisioned and so named because she is the eighth generation Pfister to make wine at the domain. Following the transition, the next big step she took came after the harvest in 2010, when she broke ground on a new cellar. She knows how she wants to make and handle her wine, and beginning with the 2011 vintage she has been able to do just that.
It’s a bit cooler and more exposed up here than the rest of Alsace. So the wines end up being a bit fresher and punchier than the standard style.

In 2019, at the urging of both of her parents, Mélanie retired the older label with its distinctive band of orange and the signature of her great-grandfather in favor of a new design, one that gives each wine an acronym stemming from its vineyard name. Plus, she added her name to the domain name.

In 2022, Pfister became the latest member of the small but illustrious A.C.T. group – standing for Alsace Cru & Terroirs, an association of 18 producers dedicated to creating “grands vins.” Pfister’s wines are marked out by clarity and precision, reflecting vintage variation faithfully…these are for those who love subtle wines. Definitely a new star.  –Anne Krebiehl, MW, Vinous Media, April 2023

the wine

Silver Thread Winery

Finger Lakes, New York

The Club Collection - 2021 Silver Thread Dry Riesling

Silver Thread’s original 6-acre vineyard and ecologically-designed wine cellar were established by organics enthusiast and author Richard Figiel.  It was one of the first Finger Lakes wineries to produce exclusively dry wines from European grape varieties in the 1980's.

Since the late 1980’s, the vineyard has followed the principles of sustainable farming, and was certified organic.

Wine educator Shannon Brock and her husband, acclaimed winemaker Paul Brock, took the helm of Silver Thread Vineyard in 2011.  True to its founding principles, Silver Thread is an owner-operated, boutique winery known for sustainably-grown estate wines.  The Brocks practice a holistic, regenerative style of farming called biointensive viticulture. The winery generates 100% of its energy needs from a 28kw solar array on-site. Located on the east shore of Seneca Lake, it is considered one of the region’s prime grape growing areas.

At this location the bottom of the lake drops almost 200 feet below sea level, a dramatic mass of water that creates a distinct microclimate on the hillside— cooling breezes in summer, radiating warmth through the winter, and extending the length of the growing season. On this site 250 years ago, the Haudenosaunee (a.k.a. Iroquois) people tended huge peach orchards, a testament to this temperate ‘island’ within a cool region.

The winery is named for a local waterfall, Silver Thread Falls, known as one of the loveliest in the Finger Lakes.  Like our winery, its tucked away in a private spot and only discovered by those intrepid enough to seek it out.

The turtle image on our label was carved in a rock beside one of New York’s woodland creeks by a Native American artist many centuries ago. As an earth symbol to the Haudenosaunee people, the turtle reminds us to care for the land and water that give us the gift of wine.  This artifact is on display at the New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, NY.

Winegrower and co-owner Paul Brock has a passion for keeping busy. When not out in the vineyard or in the cellar at Silver Thread, Paul is an Assistant Professor of Viticulture and Wine Technology at Finger Lakes Community College(FLCC) in Geneva, NY. He coordinates the A.A.S in Viticulture and Wine Technology degree program at FLCC, and advises around 50 students through the degree program.

Paul has an M.S. in Enology and Viticulture from Cornell University and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has earned a wine judge certification from the American Wine Society and a level three Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust of London. He has judged at several regional, state, and national wine competitions.

Shannon Brock is thoroughly at home in the role of winery owner-estate manager, where every day presents new challenges and opportunities.  From conceiving new tasting flights, to hand-picking grapes, to designing THIS WEBSITE, she loves that there is always more to learn about wine and the wine business.

After moving to the Finger Lakes in 2005, she became Wine Director at New York Wine & Culinary Center (now called New York Kitchen) in Canandaigua, NY, where she taught wine, beer, spirits, and pairing classes for the general public and the trade, managed the all-NY-wine tasting room, and designed a Wine Spectator-Award-Winning restaurant wine list.  In 2010, she earned the level 4 Diploma in Wine & Spirits through Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), and continues to teach courses as a WSET Certified Educator.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy economics from Cornell, a master’s degree in management from University of Virginia, and Wine Judge Certification through American Wine Society.

A sustainable business must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to thrive. In every aspect of our operation, we strive to consider our impact on the social and natural environment of the Finger Lakes in addition to our financial bottom line. This effort goes beyond our farming operation to include energy use, waste reduction and community service. In honor of our commitment, Silver Thread received the New York wine industry’s Sustainability Award in 2023.

the wine

El Enemigo Winery

Vista Flores district in Tunuyán, Mendoza, Argentina

The Club Collection - 2019 El Enemigo Semillon

The Club Collection - 2021 El Enemigo Syrah Viognier

El Enemigo translates as the enemy. Nodding to the fact that at the end of any journey, most remember only one battle — the one fought within (the original enemy). This is the battle that defines us. The wines of El Enemigo are a tribute to those internal battles that make us who we are, brought to fruition by a winemaker, Alejandro Vigil, and a historian, Adrianna Catena who share a love of wine and reach back in time to capture the era when European immigrants first settled in Argentina. These settlers sought to make wines as fine, and finer, than those of their old homeland. By 1936, Malbec and Petit Verdot were the most widely planted fine varietals in Argentina, their blend considered the ultimate in refinement and aging potential.

El Enemigo is produced at BESA, located in the Vista Flores district in Tunuyán, Mendoza. The facility is named for the unique aspect of Mendoza’s high-altitude winemaking region nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. 

Alejandro Vigil was the “enfant terrible” of his family. He left school at the age of 14 to join a wine cooperative but chose to continue studying at night so as not to upset his mother. He graduated top of his class in agricultural engineering and, at 27, became, now former, head of the soils division for the National Research Institute (INTA).

Alejandro Vigil is a soil expert, winemaker, and agronomist. He is the Chief Winemaker at Bodega Catena Zapata since 2002, and also the former head of the soil division at Argentina’s Wine Institute.

Alejandro lives with his wife and children in what he likes to call The Republic of Chachingo: a rural village in Mendoza where neighbors make wine together and farm the land collectively.

Adrianna grew up in Buenos Aires and later moved to California, graduating from UC Berkeley with highest honors and the Departmental Citation in History. She holds a Master’s and PhD from the University of Oxford, and has been awarded prestigious fellowships by the Clarendon Fund, Balliol College, and the Leverhulme Trust. As an historian, Adrianna specializes in the Early Modern Iberian Atlantic – the histories of trade, consumption, and material culture – from the Renaissance to 1800. Her research has focused on the textile sector, with an emphasis on dyes and dyers, the circulation of artisanal practices, knowledge, and expertise.

The youngest daughter of Nicolás Catena Zapata, she has lived and breathed wine since childhood. Today, Adrianna blends her experience in Academia with her passion for Viticulture and Winemaking, dividing her time between El Enemigo Wines and Catena Zapata. She lives between London and Mendoza, Argentina with her husband and two sons.

Her dream is to continue the family legacy of winemaking while pursuing a passion for history and writing from a cottage surrounded by vineyards in the Argentine Andes.

the wine

Loew Vineyards

Frederick Wine Trail, Frederick County, Maryland

The Premiere Collection - 2021 Loew Grüner Veltliner

For Rachel Loew Lipman, 2022 will go down as one she won’t forget, a roller coaster of a year that has seen sorrow as well as happiness.

Lipman, 29, already was working full time at Loew Vineyards in Mt. Airy, Maryland, when her grandfather died in April. 

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of William Loew, our co-founder and the patriarch of our family on April 15th, 2022. He passed peacefully, surrounded by family at the age of 96.

He leaves with us a beautiful legacy that he created with his wife and partner, our matriarch, Lois. We are privileged to be able to honor Bill’s life and the Loew family history by continuing to share our wines produced in the traditions and practices he has taught us. We will continue to strive to make him proud.

William and Lois Loew had bought a 37-acre parcel in Frederick County in March 1982, planted vines, and by 1986 were selling their first bottles of wine. For several decades they continued to carry forward a family vocation that began in the mid-1800s, in Bursztyn, Poland, when Meilech Loew began making mead and his sons became involved in wine distribution and marketing.

While Lois remains the owner, Lipman is taking on the added responsibility as the winery general manager with an eagerness to revitalize the business in addition to using it as a vehicle to tell the family story, one that goes back through several generations of wine and mead producers.

It’s a story that follows some dark times, when during the late 1930s and 1940s the family and its winemaking businesses were victims of the Holocaust. Wolfgang was imprisoned in the Budapest political prison at 18 because he was assumed to be a Polish spy and then sent to Auschwitz on his 19th birthday. In 1954, he immigrated to America and changed his name to William. he went to college at night, and became an electrical engineer, and while working in Indianapolis he met (and later married) Lois Hendrickson. They had three daughters and later moved to Maryland, where Bill first became a home winemaker and, as he later prepared for retirement from his from his “day job” with the FDA, decided to embrace winemaking full time.

This remains a family endeavor, with her grandmother and aunts lending a hand, particularly with harvest and larger events. Lipman said she’s also teaching her cousins, but she is the lone full-timer there.

“We do things pretty collaboratively,” she said of the family. “The one thing we want more than anything is for the vineyard to have a future, and I think that is something we are all aligned with. I just happen to be the only one at the moment who wants it as a career.

“I was like an apprentice for my grandfather for the last 11 years, at least,” she said. “I spent probably 70 percent of my weeks here, even while I had a full-time job. I actually think it’s a really interesting dynamic because I get what not many people get to have. I get to work in a job where I don’t have to sit with four walls around me and I get to do something that I feel I’m pretty good at and have a strong identity with. And a huge history that I get to honor and continue.

“It’s really quite beautiful.”

"As one of the oldest existing vineyard and wineries in Maryland, with one of the longest family tenures of mead production in the world, we invite you to visit, taste our wines (and meads), and experience our deep rooted history."

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Riccitelli Wines

Uco Valley, Argentina

The Club Collection - 2020 Matias Riccitelli The Party Malbec

The Premier Collection - 2019 Matias Riccitelli Father Malbec

Matias Riccitelli was born in Cafayate, Salta, a little village in the north of Argentina, a place where you can actually breathe wine.

He moved to mendoza with his family, where he studied winemaking, few years later Matias became as a winemaker for one of the most prestigious wineries in Argentina.

A traveler and a tireless dreamer, after taking part of countless harvests all over the wine world, where he gathered lots of anecdotes, he eventually decided to join these experiences with Jorge Riccitelli’s teachings (his father and mentor) and he established Riccitelli Wines in 2009.

The winery is located in Las Compuertas (1100 meters above sea level). It is the highest area of Lujan de Cuyo, where they have 20 hectares of ungrafted old vineyards. Riccitelli also works with minor growers that own their lands at the bottom of the Andes halfway between 1000 and 1700 masl such as Gualtallary, Chacayes, Vistalba, Las Compuertas and La Carrera.

In 2015 we started a new project. We revalued old vineyards Semillon, Merlot and Malbec from the argentinian Patagonia. They come from vineyards that were planted by the end of the sixties and that are located in Rio Negro high valley.

Our harvests are handmade, in this way we keep the integrity of each cluster of grapes. After this they are dropped into little concrete vats. What we want from our vineyards is to secure the best expression of our terroir keeping the highest purity and delicacy in winemaking and also in aging, taking care about their singularity in order to obtain vibrant wines.

"These great diversity of soils highly influenced by height, shows Argentinian great potential in winemaking and that is what we want to express with our wines."

The wines are energetic, see minimal-intervention, and offer exceptional value, even at the higher end.

Brand Ambassador, and sister Veronica Riccitelli and Assistant Winemaker Gabriela Lombardi, are at the helm with Mattias.

Veronica Riccitelli was born in Mendoza, but spend the majority of her adolescense in Cafayete, Salta. She began her exploration of viticulture alongside her father Jorge Riccitelli.

In the year 1993, Veronica returned to Mendoza where she worked in the Hospitality and Public Relations department at some of the most recognized wineries in the region, such as Norton, Ruca Malen, Achaval Ferrer and Fabre Montmayou. Veronica has also spent her time working as a sommelier at the Park Hyatt, responsible for creating the wine menu for the hotel. During this time, the hotel’s wine menu was recognized as the best wine menu in all of South America by Wine Spectator for two consecutive years.

Veronica resides in Vistalba, Lujan de Cuyo with her husband and 3 daughters. She is the Hospitality and Brand Embassador of Riccitelli Wines.

Gabriela was born in Lujan de Cuyo and was raised between the vineyards alongside her father. It was here that she learned about viticulture, never doubting that one day she would be an Enologist.

Gabriela received her degree in Enology at the University of Juan Agustin Maza. During her studies she did internships at high end wineries such as Vina Cobos, Fabre Montmayou, and J.P Norton. Once she received her degree she traveled to Europe and the United States to perfect her winemaking skills under the guidance of renowned winemakers such as Rui Reguinga and Paul Hobbs.

Gabriela has been working with Matias since 1999, as part of Riccitelli wines as the Assistant Enologist. She is responsible for quality control from the vineyards to the end process of the wines.

Riccitelli Wines aim to create vibrant wines that showcase the great potential of Argentine winemaking, with a diversity of soils heavily influenced by altitude.

the wines

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Göttlesbrunn, Carnuntum, Austria

The Premiere Collection - 2022 Netzl Chardonnay, Carnuntum, Austria

Image with text

Göttlesbrunn, Carnuntum, Austria

The Premiere Collection - 2022 Netzl Chardonnay, Carnuntum, Austria

Casa Lapostolle Vineyards & Estate

Göttlesbrunn, Carnuntum, Austria

The Premiere Collection - 2021 Lapostolle 'Cuvee Alexandre' Apalta Cabernet Sauvignon

Casa Lapostolle is one of the most dynamic and influential producers of wines in Chile.

Lapostolle Wines was founded by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet in 1994. Alexandra is a member of the renowned Marnier Lapostolle family that has for several generations dedicated itself to the production of high-quality wines and spirits.

In the creation of Lapostolle Wines, the family has maintained the same absolute commitment to quality that has always characterized them. Its aim is as simple as it is ambitious: to create world class wines by combining French winemaking philosophy with the magnificent terroirs of Chile. Lapostolle is recognized throughout the world for its quality and its extraordinary ability to express the Chilean terroir.

The Lapostolle winery is located in Cunaco, Santa Cruz in the Colchagua Valley, but the heart of Lapostolle is a mere 7 km away in El Condor de Apalta, site of the famous Clos;"Clos Apalta". Here, in a horseshoe-shaped valley with decomposing granite slopes formed by the Coastal Cordillera, are the ancient blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere planted between 1910-1945. The vineyard’s south-facing exposure shelters vines from the intense afternoon sun, allowing for a longer maturation producing wines of elegance, balance, concentration and excellent natural acidity.

Today, the vineyards span 188 hectares planted to Cabernet, Carmenere, Merlot, and Petit Verdot along with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Cinsault between the two Apalta vineyard sites.

With Certification in Sustainable Agriculture, they protect hundreds of hectares of native sclerophyllous forest, thus conserving the Chilean flora and fauna in the hills of our Apalta Vineyard. Lapostolle increases biodiversity in these biological conservation areas through different activities: maintenance of vegetation in streams and water courses; cultivation of plant covers in the between rows of the vineyards which helps to attract beneficial insects.

At Lapostolle, the goal is as simple as it is ambitious: to create world-class wines using French winemaking philosophy and the superb terroirs of Chile. The founders chose Apalta in the Colchagua Valley, because weather and geographical conditions are perfect for producing high quality red wines. Today, the winery is in transition from a biodynamic regime to a more expansive sustainability protocol defined under the Wines of Chile certification standards, expected to be complete in 2022.

Andrea León is the Head Technical Director & Winemaker, partnered with Co-Winemaker, Paola Muñoz, Igor Jimenez the Viticulturist, and Charles De Bournet, the Owner and GM, and oversee three vineyards, in three different appellations, and have two wineries. Together they continue to craft wines that honor their legacies and tradition and express the best of what mother nature has provides them with great finesse.

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