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| Lapostolle | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lapostolle |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Carmenère, Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle |
| Location city | Apalta |
| Location country | Chile |
| Appellation | Colchagua Valley |
| Key people | Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle, Carolina Marnier-Lapostolle |
| Varietals | Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay |
| Signature wine | Clos Apalta |
| Parent company | Familia Marnier-Lapostolle |
| Distribution | International |
Lapostolle Lapostolle is a Chilean winery and estate established in the 1990s in the Colchagua Valley region of Chile. The estate is known for producing the flagship wine Clos Apalta and for pioneering investments by European families in South American viticulture. Lapostolle's operations span viticulture, enology, hospitality, and research, linking historic traditions from Bordeaux and Burgundy with New World innovation from Napa Valley and Mendoza.
The estate was created when the French family behind Marnier-Lapostolle liqueur acquired land in the Apalta area, drawing on contacts with vintners from Bordeaux, Champagne, and Burgundy. Early collaborations included consultants from Pauillac, Saint-Émilion, and advisory visits from oenologists affiliated with Château Margaux, Château Latour, and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. The launch of Clos Apalta in the late 1990s coincided with a wave of interest in Chilean terroir that involved winemakers from Napa Valley, Stellenbosch, and Tuscany. Strategic plantings and acquisitions connected Lapostolle with broader trends led by estates such as Concha y Toro, Vina Montes, and Casa Lapostolle peers.
Lapostolle's vineyards occupy slopes in Apalta, within the Colchagua Valley, benefitting from soils similar to those found in Maule and Curicó. Vineyards are parcelled into sites that echo Old World concepts from Medoc, Pomerol, and Hermitage by focusing on aspect, altitude, and soil composition. Planting schemes emphasize Carménère along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Chardonnay, paralleling varietal portfolios cultivated in regions like Bordeaux, Rhone Valley, and California. The winery infrastructure includes gravity-fed cellars inspired by designs used at Château Cheval Blanc and temperature-controlled facilities comparable to those at Bodegas Vega Sicilia.
Winemaking blends traditional techniques from Bordeaux and experimental approaches seen in Napa Valley and Tuscany. Maceration and oak aging employ barrels sourced from cooperages in France—notably those supplying Domaine de la Romanée-Conti—while micro-oxygenation and selected yeast strains reflect practices popularized in Burgundy and Rhone Valley research centers. The flagship Clos Apalta competes with acclaimed single-vineyard bottlings like Pingus, Seña, and Don Melchor for critical attention. Secondary labels are positioned similarly to tiered portfolios from Château Lafite Rothschild, Vega Sicilia Único, and Silver Oak, offering blends that showcase varietal expression akin to wines from Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, and Sicily.
Lapostolle remains associated with the Marnier-Lapostolle family, whose heritage includes the creation of Grand Marnier and ties to French luxury and spirits houses in Paris. Management practices have involved enologists and general managers with backgrounds at Château Margaux, Château Latour, and Opus One, combining European stewardship with executives experienced in markets like United States Department of Agriculture-related export channels, distribution networks in United Kingdom and China, and brand-building akin to firms such as E. & J. Gallo Winery and Constellation Brands. Governance structures mirror family-owned estates such as Torres, Antinori, and Marchesi di Barolo.
Lapostolle has established distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia, with placement in markets including United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and Japan. Critical acclaim has come from international reviewers and competitions associated with institutions like Decanter, Wine Spectator, and Robert Parker-affiliated publications, positioning Clos Apalta among top Chilean wines alongside Don Melchor and Seña. Retail and restaurant listings mirror those achieved by premium labels such as Sassicaia, Penfolds Grange, and Château Margaux.
Lapostolle implemented sustainability programs reflecting initiatives championed by organizations like Sustainable Winegrowing schemes in California and certification bodies such as Fairtrade and Organic Trade Association analogues. The estate pursued certifications comparable to Organic and Biodynamic registrations used by producers in Burgundy and Tuscany, and has engaged consultants associated with WWF partnerships and climate research groups formerly advising vineyards in Mendoza and Stellenbosch.
Lapostolle contributes to enotourism in the Colchagua Valley, joining routes promoted alongside Casablanca Valley, Maipo Valley, and estates like Viña VIK and Casa Silva. The estate hosts tastings, tours, and events that attract visitors from Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, and international travelers from London and New York City. Cultural programming has included collaborations with chefs and artists connected to institutions such as Le Cordon Bleu and galleries in Paris and Santiago de Chile, enhancing Lapostolle's profile among collectors and gastronomes familiar with festivals like Vendimia and fairs hosted by organizations such as ProChile.
Category:Wineries in Chile