Our expert winemakers
The wines within the Fine Wine Collection are made by some of South America’s most talented
winemakers. Each with his own distinctive style and passion about his wines, our winemakers are true pioneers
in their field.
Federico Galdeano
Argentinian winemaker Federico Galdeano has been with Bodegas Trivento since 1997 and is one of the founder members of the team. He has a long association with wine, (his father and grandfather both worked with vines) and a wealth of international experience, having worked in Tuscany, Washington State and California.
Federico is the winemaker behind Golden Reserve and Eolo, Trivento’s top wine. Golden Reserve Malbec 2002 and 2005 received 90 points in Wine Spectator and the first ever vintage of Eolo has received 93 points, an amazing feat.
Federico is also renowned amongst family and friends for his skill behind a traditional Argentine asado (barbecue).
Marcelo Papa
Marcelo Papa joined Viña Concha y Toro in 1998 and was quickly promoted to Chief Winemaker of the Puente Alto cellar in 1999. The Marques de Casa Concha has received many accolades from around the world. Indeed, the entire range from the 2003 vintage received 90+ in Wine Spectator, and in each subsequent vintage he has maintained this achievement. He is now also Chief Winemaker of the Maycas del Limarí winery.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are Marcelo’s personal passions and off all the regions in Chile, the Limarí Valley is the place that excites him the most.
Enrique Tirado
Enrique Tirado joined Viña Concha y Toro in 1993, having studied viticulture and winemaking at the prestigious Catholic University in Santiago, Chile. In 1997, he became Chief Winemaker of Concha y Toro’s fine wines and soon after that, Chief Winemaker of Don Melchor. During his tenure, Don Melchor has achieved its highest accolades, most notably, the unprecedented score of 96 in the Wine Spectator for Don Melchor 2003 and 2005. The 2001 vintage was listed at No. 4 in the ‘Best Wines of the Year’ by the Wine Spectator. Enrique Tirado also served as co-winemaker for Almaviva, working in collaboration with Mouton Rothschild’s Patrick León for seven years. He is currently the consulting Chilean winemaker for Almaviva.
Enrique freely admits that he eats, sleeps and dreams Don Melchor.
Hector Urzua
Hector Urzua, the winemaker behind Concha y Toro Late Harvest, has a wealth of international experience, having worked n Australia and France. He has worked for more than 10 years at the winery in the heart of the Maule Valley and one of the first winemakers to discover the potential of this region.
Adolfo Hurtado
Just 26 years old when he took on the role of Chief Winemaker at Cono Sur, in 1997, Adolfo Hurtado is the driving force behind the vineyards and the winery. Widely acknowledged as Chile’s iconic reference for Pinot Noir, Cono Sur’s Ocio 2004 & 2005 have been named Best Pinot Noir by the Descorchados Chilean Wine Guide. Cono Sur 20 Barrels Sauvignon Blanc has been awarded Best White in its class by the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Passionate proponent of organic viticulture and long-time leader in environmentally friendly wine production, Adolfo’s preferred mode of transport around the vineyards is bicycle.
Ignacio Recabarren
A pioneer of the Chilean wine industry, Ignacio Recabarren has great international experience having participated in vintages in California (Tyland Vineyard, Mendocino County) and France (Chateau Mocallaux, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Lafite). He worked for more than two years in New Zealand for Morton State, Matua and Cloudy Bay, where he developed a keen interest in white wine production.
He is currently responsible for the production of Carmin de Peumo, Amelia and Terrunyo.
Under his inspired leadership, Amelia and Terrunyo have both been acknowledged as bearers of quality standards never before seen in Chilean wines. Amelia was the first Casablanca Chardonnay to receive a Wine Spectator 90-point rating, while Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc and Carmenere, earned 90 and 91 points each with Wine Spectator.
Max Weinlaub
Max Weinlaub joined Concha y Toro in 2000 where he worked for 7 years as Marcelo Papa’s right-hand man making the Marques de Casa Concha range and also the hugely successful global brand, Casillero del Diablo. He is now head winemaker of Viña Maipo and Viña Canepa.
Before he returned to his homeland of Chile, Max worked at the highly prestigious Crema Winery in Santa Rosa, as well as Franciscan Estates in Oakville CA.
Michel Friou
Frenchman Michel Friou is the winemaker of Almaviva, the joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro. He graduated from the ‘Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique de Montpellier’ in 1988 and worked in the Languedoc and Loire regions as well as in India and the Far East.
Michel Friou has a huge experience of working with fine wines both Old and New World. He has worked at Cape Mentelle (Western Australia), Chateau Margaux (Bordeaux) and Domaine Paul Bruno in Chile, before joining Casa Lapostolle, working with Michel Rolland. In 2004, he joined Baron Philippe de Rothschild Maipo Chile and in 2007, became head winemaker of Almaviva.