Who makes it
Every La Despensa wine comes from grapes grown in Colchagua Valley. The winery will not make wine from another valley. It is an organic winery powered entirely by solar energy, with Rhône grapes from its own organic vineyard in Santa Ana.
Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre were planted in 2013. La Despensa co-ferments grapes for its wines, putting varieties together during fermentation so their colour, tannin, acidity, and aroma develop in one vessel. The range also includes Cabernet Sauvignon from a friend's biodynamic vineyard and País from a historic vineyard in Pumanque.
Where it grows
Santa Ana supplies the Rhône grapes. Marselan was planted there in 2016 and became part of the 2019 Field Blend. Roussanne and Cinsault were planted in 2017, and both entered the 2020 Field Blend. Marsanne and Viognier began producing in 2021.
Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a friend's biodynamic vineyard in the foothills of the Andes, at 800 metres. País comes from a historic vineyard in Pumanque, where the vines are around 150 years old.
What they make
The range includes La Despensa Field Blend 2021, La Despensa Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, and La Despensa Cinsault 2022. The Field Blend is the mixed variety red, made by co-fermenting grapes with native yeasts and ageing the wine for ten months in concrete.
The Cinsault 2022 is 100% Cinsault, with deeper colour and greater intensity than typical Chilean Cinsaults from further south, while remaining easy to drink. Cabernet Sauvignon gives the range a separate Andean foothill expression.