The Itata Valley was the first settlement of the Spanish Conquistadors during the 16th century. To keep up the necessary supply of wine for these new European settlers, they brought their own grape vines. And so the first propagation of some of Chile’s earliest vineyards began. The magic of the Itata begins with its special granitic soils. This ancient 200 million-year-old batholith is home to dry-farmed bush vines principally planted with the reds, Pais (Mission grape) and Carignan, and the white grape, Muscat of Alexandria. Cool coastal winds and clouds keep the winegrowing season long, giving the wines great potential for developing the complexity needed for high quality wine.