Almaviva

The vineyards of Almaviva are located in the highest part of the Maipo Valley in Chile. It is therefore with good reason that this part is called Puente Alto, which literally means ‘high bridge’.

The soil of Puente Alto is rocky and has a top layer of loamy clay. The alluvial soil provides sufficient mineral nutrients and is drained well. The orchards are located at the foot of the Andes mountain range. A cool breeze blows from the Andes, which makes a big difference in the day and night temperatures. This temperature difference allows the grapes to ripen under ideal conditions and also to maintain good acidity.

Almaviva is the result of a special collaboration between Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle of Viña Concha y Toro. The name Almaviva is derived from classical French literature. Count Almaviva is one of the protagonists in Beaumarchais' (1732-1799) famous play ‘The Marriage of Figaro’.

The label is a reflection of Chile's ancestral history, which centers on the indigenous Mapuche people. A cultrun is depicted on the label. A cultrun is a drum instrument that was used during rituals and ceremonies of the Mapuche. Also, the name Almaviva is written in Beaumarchais' own handwriting. In this way, two great traditions are connected in a unique way.

The winery has about 60 hectares in use. These hectares are planted with Bordeaux varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Cabernet Sauvignon occupies the largest part. The reason for this is that the terroir of Puente Alto is very suitable for this grape. The composition of the wine varies from year to year, but Cabernet Sauvignon always has the largest share of the blend. The wines are aged for a period of 16 to 19 months in new French oak.

Almaviva is a wine that showcases the success of the unique Chilean terroir in combination with the classic French grape varieties. In any case, this wine has contributed to the developments in viticulture and has put Chile on the map as a wine country.