Los Vascos

From Basque origin to Rothschild winery in the Colchagua Valley

The name says it all: Los Vascos—"the Basques"—refers to the founding family, who were the first to plant grapevines in this corner of the central Chilean lowlands in the late 16th century. The estate changed hands several times over the centuries until it passed into the possession of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) in 1988 under the name Eyzaguirre-Echenique. This made Los Vascos the first French winery investment in modern Chile—a bold step personally initiated by Baron Eric de Rothschild. He was primarily convinced by the Colchagua Valley's natural suitability for Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, the Rothschilds' five-arrow crest has been on every bottle, combining Bordeaux tradition with Chilean origin.

The winery is located in the Valle de Cañetén, a closed side valley of the Colchagua Valley, about 40 kilometers from the Pacific and at about 130 meters above sea level. With 640 hectares of planted vineyard area on a total area of more than 4,000 hectares, Los Vascos is one of the largest contiguous vineyards in central Colchagua. The subsoil consists of more than ten different soil types: sand and clay alluvium from the erosion of adjacent granite peaks, plus Tosca, a hard soil of volcanic origin. This diversity, combined with marine breezes and pronounced day-night temperature fluctuations, allows for a slow, even ripening of the grapes.

Bordeaux craftsmanship meets Chilean ecosystem

The philosophy of Los Vascos can be summarized in one sentence: expressing Chilean terroir with the vinification tools of Lafite. Chief winemaker Max Correa works closely with the technical director of DBR (Lafite) in Bordeaux. The oak barrels for the reserve wines are shipped directly from the own Lafite cooperage in Bordeaux to Chile—a tangible sign of how closely both houses are linked. Harvesting takes place in the early morning hours to ensure maximum freshness; older vines—some 70 years old—provide low yields with higher phenolic density.

Sustainability is not a marketing promise, but measurable: Los Vascos is certified according to the Wines of Chile sustainability code and received B-Corp status in December 2023. Almost 283 hectares of vineyard area are already officially organically certified, and the rest of the operation follows the principles of organic farming. The winery obtains its electricity from solar thermal energy and a photovoltaic system. Drip irrigation specifically conserves water resources, and harvest quantities have been deliberately reduced to increase quality. The estate also houses pastures with cattle, sheep, and horses as well as bee colonies—an actively managed ecosystem instead of a pure monoculture area. 95 percent of the employees are permanently employed; with the La Ruta del Carménère initiative, the winery specifically promotes the retention of young people in the rural Peralillo region.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and the line up to Le Dix

Cabernet Sauvignon is the house's lead variety and shapes the entire range—from the accessible entry-level wine to the Gran Reserva line Cromas and the flagship Le Dix de Los Vascos, which is produced exclusively in the best vintages. The red wines show the dark fruit typical of Colchagua—blackcurrant, plum, violet—embedded in velvety tannins that gain structure and length through Bordeaux barrel work without losing the freshness of the valley. The Cromas Carmenère Gran Reserva plays with a Chilean specialty: Carmenère had disappeared in Bordeaux after the phylloxera epidemic and survived in Chile, where it was considered Merlot for over a century. Los Vascos interprets this grape variety as spicy and full-bodied with a clear herbal note on the finish. The red wine range is complemented by Chagual—the house's first certified organic line, named after an endemic Chilean coastal plant. On the white side is the Sauvignon Blanc, which benefits from the maritime coolness of the valley and impresses with a clear citrus and herbal structure.