Discover The Land of Los Vascos

HARRISON, N.Y., Oct. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- If great wine requires patience, what does it take to turn a winery into a great estate?  Baron Eric de Rothschild, of the famed Château Lafite Rothschild estate in Bordeaux, put that question to the test when in the late 1980s he set out with a vision of creating world-class wines in some of the most remote vine growing regions of the wine world.   His quest took him to the Colchagua province in Chile, an area well suited specifically for Cabernet Sauvignon, and he purchased the Los Vascos estate.  Today, Los Vascos proudly bears the Rothschild five-arrow insignia on a new packaging design launching this fall that symbolizes a coming of age for the winery that has been twenty-seven years in the making.

Los Vascos means "the Basques" and is a reference to the estate's original founders.  The property has been planted under vine since the late 16th Century, in the wake of the Spanish conquistadors.  The decision by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) to set roots at Los Vascos came only after cautious and studied analysis.  Many properties were visited, but Los Vascos proved to have the most promise – an altitude of 130m above sea level with intense sun exposure, cool ocean breezes, and exceptional semi-arid soil composition with little risks of frost.

Under the technical supervision of Château Lafite Rothschild, substantial investments have been made.  Older vines that date back as far as 80 years were groomed.  Other vineyards were replanted with both French and local varietals, mapped out to best maximize the various micro-climates including plantings on challenging hillside locations.  A new canopy management system was created, designed to limit yields yet maximize ripeness of the fruit.   Finally, in an effort to manage the uncertain arid conditions, an extensive drip-irrigation system has been installed across the entire vineyard.  Today the property expands over 10,000 acres with 2,200 acres under vine. 

The same vigor and attention to detail was applied in advancing the viticulture process within the cellars, too.  But the magic ingredient is the exchange of knowledge and techniques between the French and the Chileans.  Eric Kohler, Technical Director of DBR (Lafite), visits Chile several times a year.  Working in partnership with Marcelo Gallardo, the Los Vascos winemaker, their mission is to create wine in the style of Château Lafite while respecting the Chilean terroir.  This dialogue between the two cultures is particularly apparent in the reserve wines including the Los Vascos Grande Reserve Cabernet and Le Dix that age in oak barrels shipped directly to Los Vascos from the Lafite's own cooperage in Bordeaux.  The wines are expressive of Lafite's signature style (elegance, finesse, drinkability), but sing with the full-bodied character typical of the Colchagua region.

There is profound respect for the people of Colchagua.   Today, the winery employs a team of over 300 who help care for the vines, but also for a variety of other plantings including olive trees, 250 acres of corn, a eucalyptus forest, beans and even a honey bee farm.  The production and hospitality centers, both built in a traditional Colonial hacienda style, are sensitive to water and energy conservation and include over 900 solar panels.  Los Vascos is active in community development.  They contribute to the advancement of local education, the creation of on-site medical assistance, funding to rebuild following the devastating earthquake of 2010, and even a soccer field for family entertainment. 

Twenty-seven years after Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite) purchased Los Vascos, the substantial investments made in both property and cellar upgrades are hitting their stride.  The technical advances are paying off in the vineyards which are now manicured to the high standards of Bordeaux.  The more mature Cabernet Sauvignon vines are producing quality fruit, and the young vines are now tamed and grown.  The new labels and packaging reflect a renewed confidence in the wines with clean designs and a more modern rendering of the Hacienda that welcomes guests.  The icon wine, Le Dix, is refreshed with color codes of rich navy and gold that are a subtle nod to the Lafite influence.  Los Vascos does not strive or pretend to be Lafite in Chile.  Rather, as the 300 people that work the winery like to say, "Los Vascos is French inspired, but Chilean born," and there is one clear unified vision which is to create the best expression of wine that the people are proud to say represents "The Land of Los Vascos."

About Pasternak
Founded in 1988, Pasternak Wine Imports is a national importer of fine wines, focused on partnerships with premium, terroir driven wines from; France, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and California. Headquartered in Harrison, NY, the company distributes its fine wine portfolio in all fifty states.

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SOURCE Pasternak Wine Imports

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