Vineyards
With a length of roughly 4,300 km and a width that usually averages 180 km, Chile is, per se, a country of contrasts. To the north it borders with the world's driest desert, the Atacama; to the east stands the majestic Andes mountain range; to the west, the vast Pacific Ocean and to the south, beyond the ancient glaciers of the Andes, it borders with Cape Horn and Antarctica. These extraordinary characteristics are the ones that, together, transform this country into a true phytosanitary island, completely isolated from potentially harmful and/or contaminant agents.
It is interesting to note that with its peculiar configuration, Chile presents unique conditions for growing grapes. Its mountainous terrain divides the territory into small transverse valleys, each with a particular microclimate. For example, those valleys close to the coast are influenced by fresh air from the Pacific Ocean, thus making them ideal for growing white grapes. On the other hand, those valleys that are closest to the Andes, like ours (Cachapoal), have significant temperature swings between day and night, hence creating ideal conditions for premium dark grapes and particularly, for our specialty: Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Our Single Vineyard Tremonte Estate is settled into the slopes and ledges of Monte Rekewa which is the first major elevation of the Coastal Mountains looking east to west towards the Andes Mountains. It is situated on the southern extreme of the Cachapoal Valley, bordering the Colchagua Valley. The Cachapoal Valley is dotted with several high-quality boutique wine producers.
The Tremonte Estate has rocky, piedmont soils making it ideal for the production of expressive, concentrated wines. Precipitous slopes of 45° to 51° create slower maturation and lower water retention resulting in the production of smaller, more concentrated grapes. It is an extreme vineyard which fluctuates from 300 to 500 meters above sea level.
The weather is delightful throughout the grape maturing months, with temperatures that hover around 30°C in the day time and dip down to 14°C at night (even cooler on the higher slopes). The refreshing afternoon Andean breeze helps to keep temperatures from soaring.
The grape varieties planted on the Estate are Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah and Viognier.
We also have a small production of avocadoes, mandarins and oranges for our guests to enjoy!
Wines Origin
The vineyard is nestled into the Mount Rekewa in the southern extreme of the Cachapoal Valley whose natural border here is the Cachapoal River. On the other side of the river is the Colchagua Valley. The precipitous, rocky slopes (45° to 51°) of the Mount Rekewa provide the perfect terrain for the production of premium dark grapes. Our vineyard is watered totally by drip irrigation and is fed by the Rekewa River which is born from an Andean glacier. The afternoon summer breeze that sweeps off the Andes Mountains cools the vineyard providing slower grape maturation.
Why the phrase “A vineyard that touches the sky from roots embedded in a gold mine”?
Many years ago, Mount Rekewa was purchased by a geologist who opened up his gold mine here named Los Coipos. The mine, which is situated on the Tremonte Estate, was eventually abandoned and has been closed for the past 30 years. The vines that stem from here are some of the highest above sea level in Chile, so high in fact that sometimes in the winter months they can be lost in the clouds.
Mount Rekewa
On observing the steep slopes of Mount Rekewa where the vineyards are planted, it is easy to imagine the exceptional quality of the wine that could possibly be obtained. We decided to create a blend of grapes from a few carefully selected mini plots, from piedmont to high slopes and name the final result “Monte Rekewa”.
Monte Rekewa
A Gran Reserva aged in the finest French Oak barrels, of very low production but which faithfully reflects this rocky, rugged terrain. A wine of incomparable character which fills the palate with complex flavors that intermingle mature black fruits with toastings of different depths, very firm tannins which give way to a silky mouthful, and semi-sweet undertones reminiscent of dark chocolate.
The abandoned gold mine that is housed beneath the vineyards' roots, is perhaps offering more than just a piece of history. On tasting this wine, it is quite easy to believe so.