Funckenhausen Vineyards
About the Winery
Argentina is home to many German immigrants including the Funcke family who arrived to Mendoza in the late 1800s. In honor of his maternal ancestors, Kurt Heinlein founded the Funckenhausen Vineyards in the San Rafael appellation of South Mendoza. The region is located at the foothills of the Andes mountains near the banks of the Diamante river where they grow distinctive Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bonarda. Funckenhausen Vineyards is a family-owned winery that seeks to honor Kurt and Alejandro’s German ancestry while establishing an Argentine tradition of winemaking for future generations. Kurt Heinlein and his grandson Alejandro Leirado Heinlein chose to bottle their Malbec blend in a unique 1.0 liter bottle so there would always be plenty available at gatherings with friends and family. “Because to share you need more than 750ml” is aptly printed on the front of each and every bottle.
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The Wine
Funckenhausen Malbec Blend / SRP: $16.00
Funckenhausen Malbec blend (60% Malbec, 20% Bonarda and 15% Syrah). Each varietal goes through 15-20 day maceration in its own concrete tank where malolactic fermentation is introduced. 20% of the Malbec in the blend comes from the previous vintage ‘Reserva’ which is aged 12-months in French and American oak for added depth and complexity; juicy, intense, vibrant and well-balanced.
Funckenhausen Cabernet Sauvignon / SRP: $16.00
Funckenhausen Cabernet Sauvignon (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot). This wine is dark violet with ruby edges in the glass, there are black fruits and red pepper mixed with subtle notes of spice and vanilla. The texture is bold, but elegant on the palate with a balanced finish that invites another pour.
Funckenhausen Rosé / SRP: $16.00
Funckenhausen Dry Rosé (85% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc). The gently pressed juice contacts the skins only for a few hours for color and aroma and is immediately sent to steel tanks where it undergoes fermentation for about twelve days (no oak). In the glass it is a light salmon color and on the nose there are pleasant aromas of red berries and white flower. The wine is crisp, complex with a lingering finish.
Funckenhausen Cofermented Malbec/Riesling / SRP: $21.00
Funckenhausen Cofermented Malbec/Riesling (94% Malbec, 6% Riesling. Introducing a new project featuring cofermented varietals produced in small batches from estate fruit. This wine is a reflection of Funckenhausen’s identity, as it combines Argentine Malbec with Riesling, a grape with origins in the Funcke family’s native Germany.
On the nose the wine displays notes of ripe blackberries and plums, subtle spiciness and a delicate floral nuance added by the Riesling. On the palate it has a rich and bold structure featuring smooth and well integrated tannins leading to a lively and long finish highlighted by crisp acidity.