Viña González Bastías is a tiny, family-run winery in González Bastías village, a historic settlement on the Maule River in central Chile.

Fifth-generation grower José Luis Gómez Bastías and agronomist Daniela Lorenzo farm about four hectares of ancient vines without replanting or irrigation, preserving rare heritage varieties such as País, Moscatel and Torontel on their original rootstocks.

The estate employs sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices, with sheep grazing for natural soil fertility and horse-drawn ploughing, to maintain a balanced ecosystem and reflect local terroir.

In addition to Naranjo, the estate makes other traditional, handmade wines including Pais-centric cuvées, showcasing the region’s ancient grape heritage.

Chile’s Central Valley is the country’s most important and productive wine region, stretching south from Santiago between the Andes and the Coastal Mountains. This vast area enjoys a Mediterranean climate, characterised by long, warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The Andes provide fresh meltwater for irrigation and contribute cooling breezes at night, helping grapes retain acidity and freshness despite the sunny days.

The soils across the Central Valley are varied, ranging from fertile alluvial soils near the rivers to stony or clay-based soils in the foothills, allowing for a wide range of grape varieties and wine styles. The valley is home to both international and native varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, producing ripe, fruit-forward wines with notes of blackcurrant, plum and gentle spice. Carmenère, once mistaken for Merlot, has become a signature grape, offering soft tannins and flavours of red fruits, herbs and tobacco. Whites from the region, especially Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, tend to be fresh, aromatic and balanced.

Overall, wines from the Central Valley are known for their approachable style, ripe fruit character, and excellent value, reflecting Chile’s unique combination of sunshine, altitude and diverse terroirs.

Pink Moscatel is a highly aromatic grape variety belonging to the ancient Muscat family, prized for its expressive perfume and vibrant flavour profile. It is traditionally grown in parts of South America, particularly Chile and Argentina, where it has long been used in heritage and artisanal winemaking.

Pink Moscatel produces wines with intense floral aromas of orange blossom and rose petals, alongside ripe stone fruit, citrus peel and subtle spice. Naturally high in acidity, it brings freshness and lift, even in warmer climates.

Pink Moscatel is also valued for its contribution to blends, adding fragrance and elegance. When farmed from old vines and made with minimal intervention, it can deliver distinctive, characterful wines that highlight regional tradition and grape purity.

Torontel is an aromatic white grape variety native to South America, most closely associated with Peru, Argentina and Chile.

It belongs to the wider Muscat family and is particularly valued for its highly expressive, perfumed character. Torontel typically produces wines with intense aromas of jasmine, orange blossom and rose, supported by flavours of ripe peach, apricot and citrus zest.

Despite its aromatic richness, it can retain good natural acidity, giving balance and freshness when grown in suitable climates.

Torontel is also historically linked to the production of Pisco in Peru. When handled carefully, it delivers elegant, floral wines that are immediately appealing yet capable of surprising complexity.

País—known as Listán Prieto in Spain, Mission in North America and Criolla Chica in Argentina—is one of the oldest Vitis vinifera grapes in the Americas. Brought by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century, it became the workhorse of Chile’s early vineyards, especially in Maule, Itata and Bío-Bío, where many vines remain ungrafted and dry-farmed.

Viticulturally, País is vigorous and hardy, thriving on poor, granitic or sandy soils with little irrigation. It tolerates heat and drought, sets generous crops and is commonly trained as bush vines (en vaso), some well over a century old. The berries are relatively thin-skinned; careful farming and modest yields are key to flavour concentration.

Plantings are concentrated in Chile, with smaller pockets across the Andean nations, Mexico and the south-western United States, as well as the Canary Islands (its European home). In Argentina, Criolla Chica forms part of a broader Criolla family.

Styles range from the traditional rustic “pipeño” to today’s vibrant, low-extraction expressions. Modern País is typically pale to medium in colour, light- to medium-bodied, with lifted acidity and gentle tannins. Expect bright red fruit—wild strawberry, raspberry and cherry—alongside rosehip, hibiscus, dried herbs and a subtle earthy or spicy note. It also shines in crunchy, chillable reds, fragrant rosés and occasional pét-nat or method-ancestral sparklers. At its best, País offers sheer drinkability, savoury charm and a clear window onto Chile’s historic, coastal-influenced terroirs.

Pink Moscatel is a highly aromatic grape variety belonging to the ancient Muscat family, prized for its expressive perfume and vibrant flavour profile. It is traditionally grown in parts of South America, particularly Chile and Argentina, where it has long been used in heritage and artisanal winemaking.

Pink Moscatel produces wines with intense floral aromas of orange blossom and rose petals, alongside ripe stone fruit, citrus peel and subtle spice. Naturally high in acidity, it brings freshness and lift, even in warmer climates.

Pink Moscatel is also valued for its contribution to blends, adding fragrance and elegance. When farmed from old vines and made with minimal intervention, it can deliver distinctive, characterful wines that highlight regional tradition and grape purity.

Torontel is an aromatic white grape variety native to South America, most closely associated with Peru, Argentina and Chile.

It belongs to the wider Muscat family and is particularly valued for its highly expressive, perfumed character. Torontel typically produces wines with intense aromas of jasmine, orange blossom and rose, supported by flavours of ripe peach, apricot and citrus zest.

Despite its aromatic richness, it can retain good natural acidity, giving balance and freshness when grown in suitable climates.

Torontel is also historically linked to the production of Pisco in Peru. When handled carefully, it delivers elegant, floral wines that are immediately appealing yet capable of surprising complexity.

País—known as Listán Prieto in Spain, Mission in North America and Criolla Chica in Argentina—is one of the oldest Vitis vinifera grapes in the Americas. Brought by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century, it became the workhorse of Chile’s early vineyards, especially in Maule, Itata and Bío-Bío, where many vines remain ungrafted and dry-farmed.

Viticulturally, País is vigorous and hardy, thriving on poor, granitic or sandy soils with little irrigation. It tolerates heat and drought, sets generous crops and is commonly trained as bush vines (en vaso), some well over a century old. The berries are relatively thin-skinned; careful farming and modest yields are key to flavour concentration.

Plantings are concentrated in Chile, with smaller pockets across the Andean nations, Mexico and the south-western United States, as well as the Canary Islands (its European home). In Argentina, Criolla Chica forms part of a broader Criolla family.

Styles range from the traditional rustic “pipeño” to today’s vibrant, low-extraction expressions. Modern País is typically pale to medium in colour, light- to medium-bodied, with lifted acidity and gentle tannins. Expect bright red fruit—wild strawberry, raspberry and cherry—alongside rosehip, hibiscus, dried herbs and a subtle earthy or spicy note. It also shines in crunchy, chillable reds, fragrant rosés and occasional pét-nat or method-ancestral sparklers. At its best, País offers sheer drinkability, savoury charm and a clear window onto Chile’s historic, coastal-influenced terroirs.

Pink Moscatel is a highly aromatic grape variety belonging to the ancient Muscat family, prized for its expressive perfume and vibrant flavour profile. It is traditionally grown in parts of South America, particularly Chile and Argentina, where it has long been used in heritage and artisanal winemaking.

Pink Moscatel produces wines with intense floral aromas of orange blossom and rose petals, alongside ripe stone fruit, citrus peel and subtle spice. Naturally high in acidity, it brings freshness and lift, even in warmer climates.

Pink Moscatel is also valued for its contribution to blends, adding fragrance and elegance. When farmed from old vines and made with minimal intervention, it can deliver distinctive, characterful wines that highlight regional tradition and grape purity.

Torontel is an aromatic white grape variety native to South America, most closely associated with Peru, Argentina and Chile.

It belongs to the wider Muscat family and is particularly valued for its highly expressive, perfumed character. Torontel typically produces wines with intense aromas of jasmine, orange blossom and rose, supported by flavours of ripe peach, apricot and citrus zest.

Despite its aromatic richness, it can retain good natural acidity, giving balance and freshness when grown in suitable climates.

Torontel is also historically linked to the production of Pisco in Peru. When handled carefully, it delivers elegant, floral wines that are immediately appealing yet capable of surprising complexity.

País—known as Listán Prieto in Spain, Mission in North America and Criolla Chica in Argentina—is one of the oldest Vitis vinifera grapes in the Americas. Brought by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century, it became the workhorse of Chile’s early vineyards, especially in Maule, Itata and Bío-Bío, where many vines remain ungrafted and dry-farmed.

Viticulturally, País is vigorous and hardy, thriving on poor, granitic or sandy soils with little irrigation. It tolerates heat and drought, sets generous crops and is commonly trained as bush vines (en vaso), some well over a century old. The berries are relatively thin-skinned; careful farming and modest yields are key to flavour concentration.

Plantings are concentrated in Chile, with smaller pockets across the Andean nations, Mexico and the south-western United States, as well as the Canary Islands (its European home). In Argentina, Criolla Chica forms part of a broader Criolla family.

Styles range from the traditional rustic “pipeño” to today’s vibrant, low-extraction expressions. Modern País is typically pale to medium in colour, light- to medium-bodied, with lifted acidity and gentle tannins. Expect bright red fruit—wild strawberry, raspberry and cherry—alongside rosehip, hibiscus, dried herbs and a subtle earthy or spicy note. It also shines in crunchy, chillable reds, fragrant rosés and occasional pét-nat or method-ancestral sparklers. At its best, País offers sheer drinkability, savoury charm and a clear window onto Chile’s historic, coastal-influenced terroirs.