We are very excited adding to our portfolio the first winery from across the deep water! Roberto Henriquez belongs to the young generation of vine growers in Chile. After graduating from agronomy and enology at the University of Concepcion, he travelled to France (Loire), South Africa and Canada, gaining experience and broadening his winemaking horizons. Upon his return to Chile, Roberto started his personal project in the southern regions of Bío Bío and Itata – a birthplace of Chilean wine, where the vine cuttings of Listan Prieto (Pais/ Mission/ Criola Chica) were first introduced by the Spaniards upon their arrival in 15th century. For decades in the shadow of the more prosperous Northern regions, this cradle of Chilean viticulture, remained faithful to the traditions of the past and in recent years is becoming a hub for the artisan winemaking ventures. A humble Pais (Listan Prieto) grape which is nowhere to be found in Europe (except for phylloxera free Tenerife), is at the very heart of this revival.

Roberto works in the most traditional way, making pure and expressive wines in true Chilean context. He cultivates 3 hectares of 150-200 years old Pais vines to the south of the Bio-Bio river, near Nacimento. The soils in the area are mostly granitic, partially alluvial with proportion of clay and sand. Biodynamically farmed grapes are foot trodden and whole cluster fermented in open top, wooden lagares (locally called rauli). The wine is aged in pipas – large, old barrels which lend the name (pipeño) to both: method of production and to the rustic, yet extremely elegant style of wine.

The grapes for his characterful white come from the head pruned, old vine plots of Corinto (Chasselas), Muscat of Alexandria and Semillon in the southern, coastal part of Itata, where red granite soil predominates. The juice is fermented with natural yeast and the wine remains in contact with the skins for approximately three months.

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