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| Casa Lapostolle | |
|---|---|
| Name | Casa Lapostolle |
| Location | Colchagua Valley, Chile |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founders | Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, André Marnier-Lapostolle |
| Key people | Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle |
| Parent company | Marnier-Lapostolle family |
| Signature wine | Clos Apalta |
| Varietals | Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc |
Casa Lapostolle Casa Lapostolle is a Chilean winery founded by members of the Marnier-Lapostolle family in the Colchagua Valley of Chile. Renowned for its flagship wine, Clos Apalta, the estate integrates French heritage from Maison Cointreau founders with New World viticulture influenced by Michel Rolland and Chilean oenological traditions. The winery has contributed to the international reputation of Chilean wine alongside peers such as Concha y Toro, Viña Santa Rita, and Viñedos Emiliana.
The estate was established in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle and André Marnier-Lapostolle after acquisition of vineyards near Apalta Valley in Colchagua Province, adjacent to estates like Viu Manent and MontGras. Early collaborations included consultation with Michel Rolland and technical input from Chilean consultants linked to Universidad de Chile and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile viticulture programs. Growth paralleled expansion in Chilean wine industry during the 1990s and 2000s alongside wineries such as Santa Carolina and Luis Felipe Edwards. Strategic partnerships and distribution agreements brought wines to markets alongside importers like Foster's Group affiliates and distributors tied to Pernod Ricard networks. The winery weathered events including the 2010 Chile earthquake and adapted practices after studies from Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias.
Vineyards are located in Apalta within the Colchagua Valley, near terroirs comparable to Cachapoal Valley and Maule Valley. Soils include alluvial deposits and schist outcrops similar to sites in Aconcagua Valley and influenced by the Andes Mountains rain shadow. Parcels are set among microclimates affected by proximity to the Tinguiririca River and diurnal shifts akin to those impacting vineyards in Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley. Varietal plantings mirror Bordeaux assemblages like Saint-Émilion blends and Rhône varieties found in Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape comparisons. Vineyard design and clonal selections relate to programs from INIA and practices used by estates such as Château Margaux and Château Lafite Rothschild when transposed by consultants like Olivier Rivière and Philippe Melka.
Winemaking at the estate employs techniques informed by French négociant traditions from Maison Cointreau and modern consulting from oenologists including Michel Rolland and collaborators with ties to Université de Bordeaux. Production includes flagship Clos Apalta and single-vineyard bottlings that echo Bordeaux-style blends such as Left Bank Bordeaux and Right Bank Bordeaux approaches. Fermentation regimes use stainless steel and oak maturation in barrels sourced from cooperages like Taransaud, Darnajou, and Boutes similar to barrels used at Château Pétrus and Château Latour. Wines have been compared in tasting notes alongside releases from Almaviva and Seña and are distributed in markets with retailers like Harrods, Noble Rot, and auction houses such as Sotheby's. Aging protocols reference practices from Bordeaux classifications and New World innovators like Robert Mondavi.
The estate has pursued sustainable viticulture influenced by programs from Fair Trade USA partners and certifications aligned with standards like Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand and practices promoted by Vineyards for Africa exchanges. Initiatives include integrated pest management advised by INIA scientists and water management strategies responding to studies from University of California, Davis and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile hydrology research. Renewable energy projects mirror efforts by wineries such as Viña Casa Silva and Concha y Toro, and grape sourcing policies reflect traceability systems used by Bureau Veritas and sustainability consultancies like Rainforest Alliance.
Ownership remained with members of the Marnier-Lapostolle family, with executive roles held by Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle and family executives drawing on corporate governance models from Maison Cointreau and private family firms such as LVMH-linked houses. Management teams include winemaking directors connected to networks at Universidad de Chile and international consultants from Bordeaux and California. Distribution and commercial strategy coordinate with international importers like Pernod Ricard affiliates and retail partners including Berry Bros. & Rudd and Majestic Wine.
Clos Apalta and other cuvées have received acclaim from critics and institutions such as Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, Decanter, International Wine Challenge, James Suckling, and Wine Enthusiast. Scores and medals placed the winery alongside celebrated estates like Château Margaux, Vega Sicilia, Penfolds, and Opus One in comparative tastings. Honors have been noted in guides such as The World Atlas of Wine and rankings published by Wine Advocate and Vivino user lists, and wines have been featured at events like Vinexpo, ProWein, and London Wine Fair.
The estate offers tours and tastings situated in Apalta, drawing visitors from Santiago, Valparaíso, and international tourists arriving through Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport. Visitor programs compare to enotourism experiences at Bodegas Torres, Château Pichon Longueville, and Robert Mondavi Winery, including cellar tours, vertical tastings, and vineyard walks. The winery participates in regional initiatives promoted by Chile Travel and collaborates with local hospitality providers such as boutique lodges in Santa Cruz, Chile and culinary partners linked to chefs influenced by Ferran Adrià and René Redzepi.