The vineyard
Vineyard & Winery
Vineyard
The Vineyard
Our estate lies within the Cachapoal Andes appellation of origin, 550 meters above sea level, in the Andean foothills right next to the mountains, and is crossed by the Rigolemu creek. We have 70 hectares, almost 30 of them planted with vines, while around 30 hectares remain wild, preserving biodiversity in line with the sustainable philosophy that inspires us.
Our vineyard enjoys a unique natural setting that has kept the vines and fruit protected from pests and disease. The natural characteristics this terroir gives the fruit also allow us to make fresh, fruit-driven wines, thanks to a wide diurnal temperature range of up to 20 degrees Celsius — ideal for producing fine wines. And although we sit at the foot of the Andes, we are only 100 km in a straight line from the Pacific Ocean, whose Humboldt Current influences the valley and gives the wines great freshness.
Our soils vary with their distance from the Rigolemu creek: the closer the vines are to it, the more alluvial the soil; the farther north or south they are planted, the more colluvial it becomes. Layers of sand, silt and clay textures predominate. The climate is Mediterranean.
Today we grow Syrah (clones 100, 525, 300 and 174), Cabernet Sauvignon (clones 169B, 337, 338 and 46C), Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot (massal selection) and Viognier (clone 642). All are trained on vertical trellises with precision irrigation.
The harvest
Harvest is a very important time for us. Grapes are picked into small 12 kg bins so the bunches are not damaged and arrive at the winery in optimal condition to begin winemaking.
All our vineyards are on the same estate and are vinified at the winery in the middle of the property, so the grapes reach it very fresh in the morning.
The map
Block by block
The vineyard is divided into blocks, each with its own grape and character. Our technical sheets show which blocks each bottle comes from: this map lets you follow the path in reverse, from the soil to the glass.
Hover over a block to see its grape and the wines that come from it.
450,000
Liters of capacity
400+
French oak barrels
2 levels
Engineering unique in Chile
Semicircular engineering
The Winery
After several harvests, and with a clear understanding of our grapes, the decision was made to build the winery. It reflects painstaking engineering work aimed at respecting the quality of the fruit from our vineyard. It was designed by the winery's first general manager, Jaime Lagos Soto, drawing on his experience to create an innovative winemaking process. It stands out for its semicircular design and a movable arm unique in Chile, which makes it easy to bring the grapes to every vat using gravity throughout the entire process.
The winery's current capacity is 450,000 liters in stainless steel tanks ranging from 3,500 to 10,000 liters — sizes well below those normally used in the industry.
For storing and aging our wines we have around 400 barrels in two sizes: 225 liters for the Private and First Edition lines, and 500 liters, used exclusively for our icon wine, Profundo. All are French oak from various cooperages.
Heritage
San José de Los Maquis Chapel
1803
Around 1803, construction began on a small chapel for the old estate in the area. It was built so that one of the daughters of the estate's owners, Doña Josefa Eulalia Madariaga, could celebrate her wedding there, and also as a place of prayer for the workers — hence its name, "San José Chapel", in honor of Saint Joseph the Worker.
1870
In 1870 Doña Josefa opened the chapel to the public, so that masses and religious celebrations could be held for the whole community.
2010
In 2010 the winery made a commitment to the Archdiocese of Rancagua to restore the chapel and keep the area's old traditions alive.
2026
Today the San José de Los Maquis Chapel shines in the heart of the valley, faithfully representing not only a historical era but also the traditions and culture of all its inhabitants. It is one of Valle Secreto's highlights and a meeting point for visitors to our winery and for the whole community.
