Winemaker

GUSTAVO MARTÍNEZ

Grapes

PAÍS, CARIGNAN, CINSAULT, MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA, CORINTA

PHILOSOPHY

RENAISSANCE

Vinos Gustavo Martinez is a reasonably new project, producing wines from an area with a long history of grape growing.

The Itata region has been growing grapes since the arrival of the Spanish settlers, yet can be somewhat unknown, even for fellow Chileans in the industry based in the Central Valley to the north. Most vineyards are planted over rolling hills along the dry farmed coastal mountain range. A super cool climate with granitic soils that predominate the area and mostly old vines that can reach up to over 100 years old planted under bush vine.

Gustavo also works with two other vineyards that are heading east towards the Andes Mountain range, with a presence of volcanic soils. This is where it gets a little warmer too, best for the Carignan and País grapes, he says.

The VGM project commenced in 2015 when Gustavo set out to making his own wine in a way the ancestors of this region produced for mainly local consumption. He admired the beauty of the Itata Valley and has pursued to revive traditional winemaking techniques used in this area, before the modern industry took over with its different approach. In saying this, his philosophy is to make wine in the Pipeño style, with minimal handling, jumping in vats doing his own ‘pigeage’ and no chemical additions from the vineyard to the bottle.

We truly love working with Gustavo, his understanding of Itata is fascinating, his enthusiasm is infectious, and his tiny ‘bodega’ with 4 vats and no more than twenty old barriques, is a sign of a great producer with an ideal, and a whole lot of heart towards everything he is doing. Tasting out of those vats and barriques ourselves, we found the wine brilliantly consistent with VGM’s attitude towards quality over value.

Gustavo’s wines are respectfully true to the region and varietal, providing a savoury edge with energetic flair.