Viña Torreón de Paredes

The winery

Torreón de Paredes was born in 1979, when Amado Paredes, already in his seventies, bought a vineyard in the municipality of Rengo, about three kilometers east of the town and at the foot of the Andes. The place, the Fundo Santa Teresa, came with its own history: the winery dates the adobe walls of its oldest cellar to the mid-eighteenth century. Today those colonial buildings, the palm-lined square, the park and the white tower that is the house's emblem make up the ensemble visitors walk through. It remains a family business: the founder's sons, Javier and Álvaro Paredes Legrand, are in charge of management and production, and winemaker Isabel Paredes, Don Amado's granddaughter, returned to the winery after stints in New Zealand and France.

The vineyard, of about 150 hectares according to South America Wine Guide (the winery does not publish the figure), sits at 323 meters above sea level in the Alto Cachapoal, on stony soils of mountain origin; it is irrigated with water from the Claro River and harvested by hand. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carménère, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer grow there. The wines are grouped into Andes Collection (formerly Valle de Rengo), young and fruity; Reserva; Reserva Privada, whose Merlot comes from the mature vineyard and spends 12 months in new French oak barrels; and two icons: Don Amado, a red from the property's oldest vineyards, and Sweet Raquel, a late harvest of Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc dedicated to the founder's wife. Completing the offer are a sparkling wine, Sparkling Delight, and a Sauvignon Blanc with grapes from the Leyda Valley. The house presents itself as certified sustainable: in 2015 it obtained the Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile seal for its vineyards, its winery and its commitment to the community.

Visits require a booking and a minimum of four people. The four tours last an hour and a half, with a bilingual guide, and follow the same route through the vineyard, the park, the winery and the colonial buildings; what changes is what you taste, from the Tour Cordillera to the vertical of three vintages of Don Amado. Request them by WhatsApp at +56 9 9274 2137 or at visitas@torreon.cl. On the property there is a wine shop, open Monday to Saturday and also selling online, with bottles from CLP 4,000 and a minimum purchase of CLP 60,000. No restaurant open to the public is published, though Enoturismo Chile lists lunches for groups and private dinners. The winery also has an events center for weddings and corporate gatherings.