“A reference in independent winemaking in Chile.”

The Drink Business, 2014

“Arguably one of the country’s best winemakers”

Wine Spectator, 2010

“Álvaro has had a huge impact on his country’s wine scene, producing Chile’s first Carmenère and being the person who brought biodynamic viticulture to South America.”

Tim Atkin, Master of Wine, 2022

Meet Alvaro, founder and winemaker

After starting in the industry at Undurraga in 1986, Álvaro studied winemaking in Bordeaux, working at Château Margaux, and then over to Champagne at Moët & Chandon.

“Espinoza has worked to promote techniques such as organic viticulture, advanced water management and hillside farming”

Wine Spectator, 2002

Upon his return to Chile, he moved to Viña Carmen, where he worked as a winemaker until 2000, taking a sabbatical in 1998 to work with California’s Bonterra.

“Espinoza's success at Carmen sparked a surge of talent into the business”

Wine Spectator, 2002

Alvaro started working as a consultant winemaker, helping several different wineries, including Emiliana, Viña Undurraga, Viña Quintay, Viña Perez Cruz, Viña Apaltagua, Casas del Bosque, and Santa Ema, among others. He also consults at Luna Austral in Uco, Argentina.

“He has long been influencing the vineyards of Chile through his viticulture work as Chile’s top biodynamic consultant.”

The Drink Business 2014

Álvaro was one of the first winemakers in Chile to correctly identify, and bottle Carmenère.

“Carmenère was brought to prominence in the mid- 1990s by Álvaro Espinoza”

Wine Spectator, 2004

“Of the high-profile oenologists, only Alvaro Espinoza, late of Carmen, has really established anything off his own bat, the admirable small organic producer Antiyal whose wines are definitely worth trying.”

Jancis Robinson, 2003

“A true Pioneer, single-handedly responsible for introducing biodynamic viticulture into South America”

Wineanorak, 2004

In 1996, Álvaro and his family planted two acres of vines around their home in Maipo. In 2003, they planted their El Escorial estate in the rocky volcanic/basaltic soils of the Andean foothills, with over 50 acres of organic and biodynamic vines at 500 meters of altitude.

In 2015, he was recognized by Decanter as one of the top 30 most influential winemakers in the world.