Winemaker
Cristóbal Undurraga Marimón
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Colchagua, Chile
- Venue
- Viña Koyle · Winery
i. Biography
Cristóbal Undurraga Marimón works at the intersection of biodynamics and terroir-led winemaking at Viña Koyle in Colchagua, Chile. His technical direction is framed by a pursuit of identity, excellence, character, elegance, and purity, with family experience and enological experimentation held in the same register. The result is a style that reads as disciplined, but never closed to place.
The Climb
The cellar training behind Cristóbal Undurraga Marimón moved quickly across some of the most exacting wine regions, and each post added another layer to the technical discipline that defines his work. He began as enologist at Franciscan Estates in Napa, California (from 2001), where precision and attention to detail were already part of the daily brief. In 2002, he added two more enologist roles in parallel: at Rosemount Estates in Australia (from 2002) and at Chateau Margaux in Bordeaux, France (from 2002). Those appointments placed him in cellars where standards were not aspirational, but operational. By 2003, that progression had taken him to Lead Enologist at Vina Kaiken in Argentina, a role that sharpened his command of the craft and expanded the range of his practical responsibility. The arc is defined by movement across continents and by the steady accumulation of technical experience. Today, Cristóbal is Chief Winemaker and Technical Director of Viña Koyle and Wine Director of Doña Paula (since 2023), roles that reflect the span of his experience and the scope of his remit.
Today
At Viña Koyle in Colchagua, Chile, he works as Technical Director in a setting where vineyard and cellar are tightly linked, and where the language of place has to be earned in the wine. His own description of viticulture points to that broader frame: people, vines, soil, climate, and the living system around them are part of the equation, not background. That outlook places emphasis on the relationships that shape a site rather than on intervention for its own sake. At Viña Koyle, the work is grounded in biodynamic conviction and in a clear effort to let terroir register with clarity.
Signature
Cristóbal's signature wines include Auma, Carmenere, Koyle Gran Reserva Carménère 2019, Koyle Costa Sauvignon Blanc 2012, and Koyle Costa Pinot Noir 2012. Read together, they show a range that moves between structured reds and coastal wines, with freshness, precision, and a more tightly defined sense of origin.
Recognition
The clearest recognition in his profile is the position Cristóbal Undurraga Marimón holds at Viña Koyle in Colchagua, Chile, within biodynamic, terroir-driven winemaking. In that setting, the technical training, international cellar experience, and commitment to place come together in a way that gives the work its balance of craft, restraint, and character.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Cristóbal
What is Cristóbal Undurraga Marimón's current role?
As of 2026, Cristóbal Undurraga Marimón is Technical Director.
Where did Cristóbal Undurraga Marimón work before?
Cristóbal Undurraga Marimón's earlier career included Franciscan Estates, Rosemount Estates, and Chateau Margaux.
What is Cristóbal Undurraga Marimón known for?
Biodynamic, terroir-driven winemaking that emphasizes identity, excellence, character, elegance, and purity, using family experience and innovative enological techniques.
