When we discovered this vineyard in Ránquil, in the heart of the Secano Costero of the Itata Valley, we knew we were witnessing something truly unique. A place with natural conditions that are virtually unrepeatable in Chile, offering us the opportunity to craft a different kind of Cabernet Sauvignon—one with a bold character that challenges conventions and invites us to rethink this iconic variety.
The grapes for El Cabernet de Ránquil come from La Capilla vineyard, which boasts over 130 years of history. Originally planted as bush vines at a very low density of just 2,100 plants per hectare, it is now maintained with a minimal trellis, using only the wires necessary to support its shoots. Its granite soils, rich in quartz, allow for exceptional drainage and balanced moisture retention, providing conditions rarely seen in Cabernet vineyards in our country.
This small 1.96-hectare vineyard—set within an 80-hectare property of native forest and 17 hectares of vines—is worked with traditional horse-drawn machinery. It is a deeply respected space, cared for by a family that has preserved it for generations, and who now open their doors to bring this exceptional wine to life.
At Viña Morandé, we embrace this project with our terroir-driven philosophy, seeking to interpret the grapes in the purest way possible. El Cabernet de Ránquil is the result of that pursuit. Innovation is part of our DNA, guiding every step of our winemaking process—beginning with our curiosity to explore different regions and terroirs.
El Cabernet de Ránquil is a truly unique wine, with an extraordinary and distinctive character that sets it apart from its peers. It showcases the purest expression of Chilean terroir, in a way that even recalls the old Cabernet Sauvignons of our country.
With only 2,000 bottles produced in the 2020 vintage, this first edition was aged for 16 months in French oak barrels and then refined in bottle for two years. This wine is not about replicating what we already know—it’s about starting a new conversation. It’s an invitation to explore, to feel the soul of Ránquil and its story through every sip.
Personally, this wine represents a fortunate meeting of tradition and vision. It’s the culmination of a century of care and dedication by a family that has stewarded this vineyard for generations, combined with the pioneering spirit and innovative outlook of Viña Morandé. Opportunities to work with vineyards of this age, origin, quality, and variety are incredibly rare today, and so we’ve committed ourselves to interpreting its grapes as purely as possible, highlighting not only their character but, above all, their true singularity.
El Cabernet de Ránquil is undoubtedly an oenological gem that honors the past, is rooted in the present, and opens new possibilities for the future of Chilean wine.