Founded in 1856, Cousiño Macul is the only winery in Chile established during the 19th century that still belongs entirely to the founding family. At age 37, Isidora Cousiño single-handedly fulfilled her late husband’s dream of owning and operating a premier Chilean winery. A passion for wine still unites the family after more than 150 years and seven generations, and Isidora’s great-great-granddaughter, Verónica Cousiño, joined the winery in 2008.
All of Cousiño Macul’s vines are ungrafted and come from massal selections from their own nursery. This has allowed for the preservation of valuable genetic material, initially brought to Chile by Luis Cousiño in 1860, including Cabernet and Merlot varieties from Pauillac in Haut-Medoc and Sauvignon Gris from Martillac in Graves.
In 1994, the capital city of Santiago had expanded to the point of completely surrounding the original Macul estate in the southeast of the city, so the family invested in 750 acres of land in Buin. Both estates are part of the subregion known as Alto Maipo, named for its high altitude at the foot of the Andes Mountains.
As one of the oldest wineries in Chile, Cousiño Macul is an heir to the legacy of respect for the land and all its surroundings. They have implemented sustainable systems in their agricultural techniques, such as minimal intervention management, which allows them to reduce the use of agrochemicals and protect the land.