As part of the Morandé Adventure project, Colinas de Ránquil is a wine that symbolizes our steadfast commitment to the heritage grape variety País, representing the exploration of terroirs capable of showcasing the variety at its best through a high-quality wine with a very clear identity.

This led us to the Itata Valley in the Biobío region. It is one of the oldest wine-producing areas in Chile, with a wine tradition spanning over 400 years. It is a place where small plots with vineyards are still scattered among forests, hills, and pines. Until recently, the majority of wine produced in the area was destined for simple local consumption. However, in recent years, the ancient vineyards of varieties such as Cinsault, País, and Moscatel have caught the attention of various winemakers, and their fruit has begun to be used in more prestigious wines.

The terroir chosen for our Colinas de Ránquil is located in the Coastal Dryland area of this valley, and it has very scarce soil in Chile. Only 8.9 hectares of this field are planted with País vines over 100 years old, situated on a set of granitic hills. They offer a large amount of quartz throughout their profile, are rich in red clays, and have loamy-clay soils.

Regarding the climate, it is warm and dry, but due to Itata’s latitude and, unlike the central zone, the summer period starts later and ends earlier. This results in slower ripening, and although summer maximum temperatures easily reach 30°C, there are frequently summer rains and coastal trough entries that refresh the environment. The coast is, in a straight line, only about 50 km away.

All these factors contribute to making Colinas de Ránquil a wine that expresses a privileged geography through an honest, complex, and deeply rooted wine, reflecting the commitment and experience of Viña Morandé for over a decade in seriously cultivating the grape variety throughout Chile.