In 1988, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) expanded into South America, marking the first French viticultural investment in modern Chile. This landmark acquisition followed a rigorous evaluation of more than one hundred Chilean wines to find an estate capable of meeting the Rothschild criteria for excellence. Today, the wines of Los Vascos seamlessly combine historic Bordeaux traditions with a singular South American terroir, delivering exceptional quality and refinement to everyday drinking.
The vineyard's exceptional pedigree dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, when two prominent Chilean wine producers introduced original vine cuttings from Bordeaux to upgrade the estate. In the late nineteenth century, when the catastrophic phylloxera epidemic devastated Europe's vineyards, Chile’s formidable natural geographic frontiers completely shielded the region. Consequently, Los Vascos preserves an unbroken line of original root-stock, producing some of the finest, most resilient pre-phylloxera vines found anywhere in Chile.
The estate is situated 25 miles from the sea in the Valle de Caneten (Colchagua), a completely closed valley at the foot of Mount Cañeten. Planted as one expansive, continuous block, the vineyard benefits from a unique microclimate characterized by intense sun exposure, reliable natural water sources, and semi-arid soils with virtually no risk of frost. This pristine environment allows a diverse mixture of grape varieties to thrive, resulting in remarkably elegant, structured, and beautifully balanced wines.