Don Cristóbal

It is very rare for an Argentine producer being 100% family owned, all own estate grown fruit and wines bottled. Located in Lujan de Cuyo and established in the late 1990s by Eduardo Lapania who, with his geologist background, always had deep understanding of the land. It was however, Eduardo’s focus on the vineyards and pushing the boundaries in both viticulture and winemaking, that has taken Don Cristóbal to the high quality  it delivers today. 25 years on, Eduardo’s children, Carine and Cristóbal now run the company, Eduardo always in the background with energetic young teams in the winery and vineyards. At every stage in the evolution of the business, the family invested in vineyards and improvements in the winery, adopting all the latest technologies.

Terroir

Four distinct estates (Fincas) La Santa Maria, La Nina, La Pinta, El Remanso, represent the diversity, maximising the quality and expression of Mendoza, from sub-regions: Rivadavia; Lujan de Cuyo and Junin. 147 hectares of certified organic vineyards, ranging from 620m to 1000 metres in altitude, the family have rare access to the highest quality fruit and total control over their own destiny.

Sustainability

•  Since 2023 all Don Cristóbal’s vineyards have organic certification by Ecocert.


•  All wines produced have been vegan friendly since 2010.


•  The viticulture sustainability self-assessment protocol by Bodegas de Argentina since 2018.

Wines

The range is based around four different styles:

•  Finca la Nina - fresh young wines with an intense character and good structure


•  Cristóbal 1492 - red varietals with fruity character, intense aromas and well-integrated oak; whites with freshness


•  Cristóbal 1492 Barrel Selection - high-end wines, grapes from the best parcels, 12 months in French and American oak


•  Triana - the best Malbec, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. 18 months in French oak barrels.

The organic Malbec arrives in the UK for the first time in May 2024. Since the beginning, the Lapania family has innovated, being the first (and only) to produce the scintillating Verdelho (we await the 2024), creating red blends from the first vintage and not afraid to produce premium wines from varieties such as Bonarda and Syrah, when the fruit quality dictates.