Viña Saavedra

The winery

Viña Saavedra is in Melozal, west of the Loncomilla River and about 20 km southwest of San Javier, by the winery's own account. Its story begins in 1878, when José León Saavedra, who had come from Logroño, bought land in the area and began making red País wine on a small scale, with ox-hide lagares (treading vats) and wooden foudres, to sell in bulk by the barrel and, later, in demijohns. From 1980 the new generations planted other varieties and expanded the winery; the first export came in 2001, and in 2022 its general manager, Felipe Villalobos, spoke of a capacity of 9 million liters. The winery presents itself today as a four-generation project, and in 2023 it won, by popular vote, the Best Emerging Winery of the Maule Region category at the Premios Enoturismo Chile, the country's wine tourism awards.

The area has a warm Mediterranean climate with the influence of the coastal dryland. The winery presents Carménère as its flagship grape, alongside Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and País. Its main brand is Alfonsina, with Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon in varietal, Reserva and Gran Reserva versions, plus a Late Harvest; it is joined by Syrah Reserva and Gran Reserva, Evocare Origo País, from old vines of the dry-farmed interior, a white of Moscatel and Torontel called Dry Farmed, a Red Blend of Cabernet and Syrah, and the Pipeño Las Casas del Morro, a rustic country wine in formats of 1 to 5 liters. The winery works with stainless steel tanks and cement vats, ages in barrels and has its own bottling line. The wines are sold through its online shop, largely by the case of six bottles, and at the winery's cellar door.

The walking visit lasts two and a half hours and is bought in the online shop, Monday to Friday: a walk among the vineyards, a climb to a lookout on the hill where remains of an old gold, silver and copper mine survive, a tour of the winery and the barrel cellar, and a tasting of three Reserva wines with a snack of tortilla de rescoldo (ember-baked bread), pebre (a Chilean salsa) and cheeses. It is suitable for all ages, with alcohol-free options for children. There are also two horseback rides, of two and of four hours; the longer one reaches a second lookout with views of the Andes, the Loncomilla River and the El Peumo ferry crossing. The rides are arranged directly with the winery by phone or WhatsApp, at +56 9 7749 1883, or by email, at ventas@vinasaavedra.cl. In harvest season the winery has also offered a day of picking and treading grapes: ask whether it will be repeated. No restaurant or accommodation is published, though Enoturismo Chile mentions lamb barbecues on request.