The Apaltagua winery, located in the prestigious Apalta region in central Chile’s Colchagua Valley, has a missionarylike zeal in its dedication to the Carmenère grape, which finds its best expression in Chile. Fruit for the winery’s Chardonnay comes from the cooler Casablanca Valley to the north, where grapes benefit from the strong influence of the Pacific Ocean.

Winemaker Álvaro Espinoza is considered a true pioneer—he’s single-handedly responsible for introducing biodynamic viticulture into South America. His interest comes thanks to a sabbatical in California in 1998 when he had lots of contact with the Fetzer wine family and Alan York, a well-known biodynamic consultant. Now one of the most respected winemakers in Chile, Espinoza works as a consultant for several other Chilean producers. He was one of the first winemakers to establish a reputation for quality Carmenère, which is why Apaltagua owner Edward Tutunjian hired him.