Viña Aquitania

The winery

Viña Aquitania grew out of a search that began in 1984, when the Bordeaux agronomists and winemakers Bruno Prats, then owner of Château Cos d'Estournel, and Paul Pontallier, of Château Margaux, traveled through Chile looking for a terroir where they could create a vineyard of their own. They partnered with Felipe de Solminihac, a Chilean agronomist and winemaker of French descent, and in 1990 bought 18 hectares in Peñalolén, in the Quebrada de Macul area, at the foot of Cerro San Ramón and within the city of Santiago. The first plantings were Cabernet Sauvignon and the winery was ready in 1993. In 2002 agronomist Ghislain de Montgolfier, then chairman of Champagne Bollinger, joined as fourth partner. Today the founders' second generation takes part in running the winery; Eduardo de Solminihac is its managing director and José Manuel Peralta its head winemaker.

The Peñalolén vineyard sits at about 700 meters above sea level, on stony soils of alluvial and colluvial origin. At night cold air flows down from Cerro San Ramón and the gap between day and night temperatures reaches 15 to 20 °C, something the winery links to the freshness of its Cabernet. According to the official website there are 15 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon and 3 of Syrah, ungrafted and farmed organically since 2019; in 2024 the winery reported that this vineyard had received its organic certificate. From here come Lazuli, its icon wine, Domaine Paul Bruno, the house's first wine, and Aquitania Cabernet Sauvignon. The other half of the story is in Traiguén, in the Malleco Valley, some 650 kilometers to the south: Felipe de Solminihac planted there in 1993 when, according to the winery, there were no vineyards south of the Biobío, and the first SOLdeSOL Chardonnay, from 2000, led to the creation of that appellation. Those 21 hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc yield the SOLdeSOL line, with a Brut Nature sparkling wine, and the Rosé and Chardonnay of the Aquitania line; that line's Carménère comes from Peumo, in Cachapoal. The Descorchados 2026 guide gave 96 points to SOLdeSOL Chardonnay 2024 and SOLdeSOL Sauvignon Blanc 2024.

Visits take place in Peñalolén, about 30 minutes from downtown Santiago, entering at Av. Consistorial 5090; from the gate, a lane between the rows leads to the winery. There are two 90-minute guided experiences, Monday to Saturday and for groups of up to 12, which start at the lookout, go down into the vineyard and pass through the winemaking, tank and barrel rooms. The Premium ends with a tasting of four wines (Domaine Paul Bruno, Carménère, Rosé and Chardonnay) and the Icono with Lazuli and three SOLdeSOL; both come with a board of cheeses and nuts. Book online in Spanish, English or Portuguese; for inquiries there is WhatsApp +56 9 7984 5789. Children under 13 go free, teenagers aged 13 to 17 and adults who do not drink alcohol pay a reduced rate, and pets on a leash are welcome. The winery explains how to get there by public transport: Metro Line 4 to Quilín and from there a taxi or bus D17. No restaurant or accommodation is advertised. The wines are sold at the winery's cellar door, in its online shop, which delivers but does not allow pickup at the winery, and in stores such as El Mundo del Vino and La Vinoteca.