Where the world ends, our story begins — Now shared with America.
HERITAGE.
Old Vines, Living History
We work with dry-farmed vineyards in Itata Valley, many planted over a century ago, preserving Chile’s Winemaking heritage through thoughtful, small-scale Production.
TERROIR.
Granite Soils & Coastal influence.
The wines of Itata are shaped by granite-rich soils, Pacific breezes, and tradicional head trained vines- Resulting in freshness, Balance, and a true sense of place.
PHILOSOPHY.
Minimal Intervention, Honest Wines.
Our Producers favor Low-Intervention Methods that Respect the vineyard and vintage, allowing each grape variety to express its origin with clarity and authenticity.
At the southern edge of the world, between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, lies Chile’s Itata Valley—one of the oldest and most historically significant wine regions in the Western Hemisphere and perhaps the world.
For centuries, small, family-run vineyards in Itata have cultivated dry-farmed vines, using native varieties and traditional methods passed down through generations.
Here, wine is not an industry, but a cultural expression — deeply tied to land, time, and community.
Itata Valley Wines was created to bridge this heritage with the U.S. market. Our mission is to connect exceptional, small-scale producers from Chile’s Itata Valley with restaurants, retailers, and wine professionals in the United States who value authenticity, origin, and craftsmanship.
We focus on wines that speak clearly of where they come from: minimal intervention, honest farming practices, and a profound respect for terroir. Each bottle represents not only a vineyard, but a story — of resilience, tradition, and independent growers working outside mass production.
Beyond wine, our work supports sustainable agricultural networks and long-term economic opportunities for rural producers. By building direct commercial relationships, we help preserve cultural heritage while creating new pathways for responsible trade and growth.
From the end of the world to your table, we are proud to share the stories, wines, and people of the Itata Valley.
Our Expertise
Our work is supported by a network of highly experienced professionals with deep roots in Chile and extensive international experience. Among them is Gonzalo Santibañez, an enologist and geologist whose career spans vineyard and winery projects across multiple wine regions around the world.
His combined expertise in enology and geology allows for a precise, site-specific understanding of terroir — from soil composition and climate to farming practices and vine behavior. This global perspective, paired with hands-on experience in Chile, ensures that each wine is evaluated and selected with both technical rigor and a clear sense of place.
Below, we explore the history and enduring bond between the Itata Valley and its principal grape varieties
Alexandria Muscat / Moscatel de Alejandria.
One of the oldest cultivated grape varieties in the world, Moscatel de Alejandría traces its origins back thousands of years to the Mediterranean basin, with historical references linking it to ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire. Revered for its aromatic intensity and versatility, the variety spread across Europe and later to the Americas through early maritime trade routes.
In Chile, Moscatel de Alejandría arrived during the colonial period and took deep root in regions such as Itata, where dry-farmed vineyards and traditional practices preserved its character over generations. Historically used for both table wines and traditional spirits, today the variety is being rediscovered through thoughtful, low-intervention winemaking that highlights freshness, texture, and a strong sense of place.
In Itata, Moscatel expresses a distinct identity—shaped by old vines, granitic soils, and coastal influence—offering wines that are expressive, transparent, and deeply connected to their origin
Pais - Listan Prieto/Mission
País is one of the oldest grape varieties in the Americas and the soul of Chile’s earliest vineyards. Introduced by Spanish settlers in the 16th century, it took deep root in the Itata Valley, where dry-farmed, head-trained vines—many over a hundred years old—continue to shape a wine culture defined by resilience and authenticity.
Long misunderstood, País has reemerged as a symbol of heritage and honest winemaking. These wines are light to medium-bodied, fresh and vibrant, offering flavors of wild strawberries, red cherries, and subtle floral and herbal notes. Bright natural acidity and soft tannins make País remarkably versatile at the table and especially enjoyable when served slightly chilled.
In Itata, País is more than a grape—it is living history. It reflects generations of small farmers, granite soils, coastal influence, and a modern, minimal-intervention approach that respects origin over artifice. Each bottle tells a story of place, tradition, and quiet elegance—where the past is preserved and the future is poured.
Cinsault
Cinsault is a Mediterranean grape variety with deep roots in southern France, particularly in Provence and Languedoc. For centuries, it has been valued for its delicate aromas, light structure, and remarkable ability to thrive in warm, dry climates. Traditionally used in rosé blends and fresh red wines, Cinsault became a cornerstone of the region’s winemaking culture.
The grape found an unexpected second home in Chile. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cinsault was introduced to the southern part of the country, where it settled naturally into the rolling coastal hills of the Itata Valley. With its granitic soils, old dry-farmed vineyards, and a long history of small-scale, family-driven agriculture, Itata offered ideal conditions for the variety to express purity, freshness, and a distinct sense of place.
In the glass, Cinsault offers elegance and freshness rather than weight. These wines are typically light to medium-bodied, with aromas of red berries, rose petals, and subtle spice. The palate is supple and lively, marked by bright acidity, fine tannins, and a delicate, silky texture that invites another sip.
Today, Itata’s Cinsault represents a new chapter for an old grape—one defined by precision, balance, and transparency. Crafted with minimal intervention and respect for tradition, these wines capture a sense of place that is both approachable and distinctive, bridging rustic origins with contemporary finesse.
Semillon
Originally from Bordeaux, France, where it has been cultivated since the 18th century, Semillon was long valued for its texture, longevity, and understated complexity. Brought to Chile in the mid-19th century, it became widely planted across the south—yet only in the Itata Valley did it remain untouched by trends and commercial replacement.
Here, Semillon took root in dry-farmed granitic soils, tended by generations of small growers. Many of these vines—now 60 to over 100 years old—form one of the world’s most important living Semillon heritages.
Shaped by a cool climate and Pacific influence, Itata Semillon favors restraint over intensity. The wines are dry, mineral-driven, and quietly expressive, revealing subtle notes of citrus peel, chamomile, dried herbs, and a distinctive saline edge. With time, they gain depth and complexity without losing their sense of place.
This is Semillon without excess—
a wine of memory, endurance, and true origin.
In Itata, Semillon is not a revival trend; it never left. It stands as a testament to Chile’s rural wine culture and to a way of farming that values endurance over immediacy. For modern drinkers seeking authenticity, old vines, and true terroir expression, Itata Semillon offers something increasingly rare: honest elegance rooted in history.
Carignan (Cariñena)
Carignan, also known as Cariñena, traces its origins back centuries to Aragón, in northeastern Spain. From there, it traveled across the Mediterranean and became deeply established in southern France, where it was long valued for its resilience and structure.
For much of the 20th century, Carignan was often associated with high yields and simple wines. But when grown with low yields—especially from old vines—and handled with care, it shows its true character: lively natural acidity, depth, and an earthy, savory edge that makes it uniquely food-friendly.
In Itata, that energy feels especially at home. Carignan tends to express red and dark fruit, a subtle herbal lift, hints of spice, and a long, structured finish. It’s a grape that rewards restraint—less makeup, more place.
Carménère
Originally from Bordeaux, France, Carménère was once planted alongside Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Valued for its deep color and herbal profile, the variety struggled in Europe due to its late ripening and sensitivity to cold. After the phylloxera crisis of the late 19th century, it was largely abandoned and eventually considered extinct.
Unknowingly, Carménère had already found refuge in Chile.
Introduced in the mid-1800s, it survived for over a century in Chile’s vineyards—often mistaken for Merlot—until DNA analysis in 1994 confirmed its identity. Today, Carménère stands as Chile’s emblematic red variety, capable of expressing very different personalities depending on place.
At Itata Valley Wines, we work with Carménère from two distinct Chilean origins.
In the Itata Valley, Carménère grows in a cooler climate, rooted in ancient granitic soils rich in quartz, with clay-influenced parcels in certain sites. These conditions shape a more restrained expression—fresh, savory, and mineral-driven—often sourced from old, dry-farmed or mixed vineyards. The wines emphasize herbal notes, tension, and transparency, reflecting Itata’s historic and rural wine culture.
In Colchagua Valley, Carménère finds a contrasting expression. Warmer days and deeper soils allow for greater ripeness and concentration, resulting in wines with darker fruit, rounder textures, and a more generous profile, showing the variety’s depth and richness without losing balance.
Together, these two origins tell a complete story of Carménère in Chile—from heritage and restraint to structure and generosity. One grape, two valleys, shaped by land, climate, and tradition.
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