2023 · La Espera Malbec

Family-owned Funckenhausen was founded in 2003 by Kurt Heinlein and is now run with his grandson Alejandro Leirado Heinlein in 25 de Mayo, San Rafael, Mendoza. Its vineyards sit at 850 metres on a windy hill beside the Diamante River, in a semi-desert climate with pronounced thermal amplitude and varied alluvial soils. The estate uses Andes meltwater for irrigation and emphasizes careful resource use, with no formal sustainability certification cited. Vineyard parcels are segmented by soil profile, and winemaking protocols are adapted to express their origins. The producer makes small-batch wines across the Funckenhausen, La Espera and Kurt Heinlein ranges, including distinctive 1-litre bottlings, experimental co-fermentations and micro-parcel icon wines. Its work is shaped by a close family history and a dedicated team focused on expressing San Rafael’s identity.