Lapostolle
Brand Description
Lapostolle was founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet upon their discovery of a unique clos in the Apalta Valley sheltering 100-year-old pre-phylloxera vines. They quickly realized its potential for producing world-class wines and embarked on their family’s next chapter in the New World. Alexandra brought generations of French winemaking tradition and expertise to the rugged landscape of the Colchagua Valley.
Today, Charles de Bournet, the seventh generation, leads the winery in its newest chapter of innovation. Together with Andrea León, Technical Director & Winemaker, Lapostolle continues to craft wines that honor the winery’s credo: French in essence, Chilean by birth.
Location of Vineyard
Natural barriers such as the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean isolated Chile from phylloxera for centuries and preserved ancient genetic stock of ungrafted vines. The diverse topography, wide array of soils, and natural cooling influence of the Humboldt Current provide the perfect environment for sustainable farming and world-class wines.
The Lapostolle winery is located in Cunaco, Santa Cruz, in the Colchagua Valley, but the heart of Lapostolle is a mere seven kilometers away in El Condor de Apalta, the site of the famous Clos. Here, in a horseshoe-shaped valley with decomposing granite slopes formed by the Coastal Cordillera, are vines planted between 1910-1945. The vineyard’s south-facing exposure shelters vines from the intense afternoon sun, allowing for a longer maturation, which produces wines of elegance, balance, concentration, and excellent natural acidity.
Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy
At Lapostolle, the goal is as simple as it is ambitious: to create exceptional wines using French winemaking philosophy and the superb terroirs of Chile. Since Lapostolle’s inception in 1994, the winery has been committed to using sustainable wines using sustainable practices and working in harmony with the land. The health of soil, native vegetation, and local animal life is paramount.
The estate vineyards are tended according to Organic and Biodynamic practices, the old vines are dry farmed, and the fruit is harvested by hand. They protect hundreds of hectares of native Chilean flora in the hills of the vineyard, increase biodiversity, follow a strict waste reduction program, and compost grape skins and stalks. The winery also uses natural water treatment processes and saves energy by using minimal filtering and limited chill stabilization. Lapostolle received the Wines of Chile certification for Sustainability in 2022.
Winery Profile
Winemaker: Andrea León
Total acreage under vine: 447
Founded: 1994
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