Talking about Antiguas Raíces always reminds me why I started making wine.

This label was born out of a restless urge to explore, out of my deepest passions in the world of wine — to go beyond the rules and simply let the terroir and the grape varieties speak for themselves.

It’s a wine I proudly sign as part of the Morandé Adventure range — a line where the winemakers of the Morandé Wine Group have the freedom to experiment and create something truly their own.

Before I talk specifically about this wine, I should say that I’ve always been fascinated by the grape varieties of the Southern Rhône, in France — a region with a warm, dry Mediterranean climate. The hot summers and mild winters there are strikingly similar to the conditions of the Secano area of Maule, especially along the Coastal Range.

It was precisely in San Elena de Loncomilla where we found an old vineyard planted in the 1950s with traditional Southern Rhône varieties. On those granitic and clay soils — poor in nutrients but rich in character — vines over 70 years old have been thriving on gentle rolling hills. Some are trained on trellises, like garnacha and marsanne, while others grow in gobelet or head-trained form, like syrah and carignan.

Antiguas Raíces is the result of blending these red and white grapes — garnacha, syrah, carignan, marsanne and roussanne. More than a blend, it represents the singular expression of these varieties combined with the strength and personality of Maule’s old vines. Its name is my humble tribute to these ancient plants that continue to offer grapes of remarkable purity and expression.

In the cellar, I chose to co-ferment syrah with marsanne and carignan with roussanne, followed by a very distinctive maceration. This process gives the wine its unique texture and aromatic profile. The result is a deeply fruited red, with vibrant red berry notes, bright acidity, freshness and a complexity that fascinates me vintage after vintage.

It’s a wine I’m truly proud of — and one I invite you to discover slowly. Because Maule, with all its rusticity and beauty, still hides treasures that only it can reveal.