Apaltagua Winery, located in the prestigious Apalta region in Chile's Colchagua Valley, specializes in one distinguished, but lesser known, grape varietal - Carmenere. Carmenere is considered the "lost Bordeaux" variety, as it was originally planted in Bordeaux, but was abandoned there because it was too late ripening for the Bordeaux climate. Thankfully, the Carmenere variety was imported to Chile where it not only survives (because of a longer growing season), but makes exceptionally good wines.
Apaltagua, owned by the Edward Tutunjian family, has a missionary-like zeal in its dedication to the Carmenere grape. The winery produces three levels of Carmenere-based wines: Apaltagua Estate Carmenere, Apaltagua Envero, and Apaltagua Grial. The resulting wines exhibit a chocolately richness and a peppery edge, combining the best of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in one grape. All of Apaltagua's wines are made under the watchful eye of one of Chile’s leading winemakers, Alvaro Espinoza.