Portrait of Leopoldo Kuschnaroff
i. Biography
The Path
At Bodegas Esmeralda in Junín, Mendoza, the winemaking line has been carried in the same place since 2008, when Leopoldo Kuschnaroff entered as an oenology staff member. The job, in his own terms, sits inside risk and repetition: “Making wine is a permanent risk and challenge.”
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The Work Today
First winemaker and operations manager is a title that joins cellar work to the pace of the estate. For Leopoldo Kuschnaroff at Bodegas Esmeralda, the standard is incremental rather than static: “We always try to improve, we take care of every detail.”
Signature
The label work attached to Leopoldo's name includes Tilia Torrontes, Tilia Cabernet Sauvignon, Tilia Chardonnay, Tilia Merlot, and Tilia Malbec.
In Their Words Experimentation is part of the method he describes for the cellar. Leopoldo Kuschnaroff puts it plainly: “I would say yes. In this job, experimentation is very important. We always bet on something new, something different, we try to see what happens. Making wine is a permanent risk and challenge.” The work is also framed as a discipline he still claims without softening it: Leopoldo Kuschnaroff says, “It is my passion, my work. I don't know many people who work in this business who are not passionate.”
Acclaim
The concrete distinction in his career is the operations-and-winemaking title he holds at the Junín estate.
FAQ
Asked of Leopoldo
How did Leopoldo Kuschnaroff get started?
He started in 2008 as an oenology staff member at Bodegas Esmeralda.
What is Leopoldo Kuschnaroff best known for today?
He is best known as first winemaker and operations manager at Bodegas Esmeralda in Junín, Mendoza, Argentina.
What is Leopoldo Kuschnaroff known for?
First winemaker and operations manager at Bodegas Esmeralda.
Where is Bodegas Esmeralda based?
Junín, Mendoza, Argentina.
Where else has Leopoldo Kuschnaroff worked?
Bodegas Esmeralda in Junín, Mendoza, Argentina.
The Sunday email
Read about winemakers like Leopoldo Kuschnaroff in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.