Viña Montes is an icon of Colchagua, producing some of the best-known wines in the region and beyond. Although Montes is associated with the Montes family, the production and Montes winery is actually owned by several associates who today claim over 700 hectares of vineyards. In recent years, Aurelio Montes Snr handed over winemaking duties to his son Aurelio Jnr who now heads up the team in Apalta who makes wines from all over Chile.

The Montes winery has Feng Shui architecture and angels hanging in the barrel room which makes it an interesting visit. Stay for lunch at the great Fuegos de Apalta restaurant overlooking the stunning Apalta hillsides and vineyards.

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Also see Kaiken winery in Mendoza

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About Montes

A landmark winery for Chile, Montes started in 1987 as the vision of entrepreneurial winemaker Aurelio Montes and business partner Douglas Murray. The Colchagua-based winery has grown by leaps and bounds since then, now with three more Chilean families as business partners and vineyards extending from Zapallar on Aconcagua’s coast down to experimental plantings on the archipelago of Chiloé in Chile’s deep south.

Never afraid to innovate or take on a challenge, Aurelio Montes Sr and his winemaker son Aurelio Montes Jr have a tireless pioneering spirit and their portfolio continues to expand beyond the luscious Apalta red wines that Montes first became famous for.

About the Montes vineyards

Montes owns three vineyards, Zapallar, Apalta and Marchigüe, and have a long-term agreement with producers in Casablanca, Leyda, Itata and Chiloé.

Zapallar vineyard

The Zapallar vineyard is located in the northern part of the Aconcagua Coast, 7 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean, and has 47 hectares planted of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay. The soil has granite and clay and moderate drainage.

Apalta vineyard

The Apalta vineyard is located in Colchagua Valley, 70 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean, and has 120 hectares planted, 50% of which is grown on steep slopes. The main grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Malbec, Tempranillo, Viognier, Petit Verdot, Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Within the vineyard, there are alluvial and colluvial soils and a mix of both types of soils which allows for growing different types of grape varieties.

Marchigüe vineyard

The Marchigüe vineyard is located in Colchagua Valley, 28 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean and has 521 hectares planted on a gentle slope. The vineyard has granitic soils and the main grape varieties grown are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Carmenère, Syrah and Tempranillo.

Other adventures

Beyond their own vineyards, Montes continues to innovate and work with different wine regions and vines around Chile. One of the most intriguing and brave of their new adventures has been to plant Chile’s southernmost vineyards – in the archipelago of Chiloé!

 

Montes wines

MONTES ICONOS

These are Montes’ most sought-after wines and are all grown in Colchagua Valley on their own estate. The line up includes Montes Alpha M, Montes Folly, Purple Angel and Taita, each of which have great ageing potential as well as approachability to enjoy today.

MONTES ALPHA SPECIAL CUVÉE

This line is the result of new challenges set by the team of viticulturists and winemakers led by Aurelio Montes in order to take the Montes Alpha line to a higher quality level. It showcases special releases from the Alpha line highlight certain terroirs and varieties.

MONTES OUTER LIMITS

Outer Limits is the most adventurous line of Viña Montes which focuses on new regions or varieties for the winery. The line up includes juicy Cinsault from Itata and punchy Sauvignon Blanc from Zapallar, among other wines.

MONTES ALPHA

In the late 1980s, a group of four people wanted to show the world Chile’s potential for producing premium wines by making high-quality wines with a distinct style. Montes Alpha is the result of this and today it is a flagship brand for Montes. Within this line, there is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Carmenère, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay.

MONTES TWINS

A non-traditional blend in a traditional family that invites you to let out “your other self”. Montes Twins is the perfect blend between you and your other half.

MONTES LIMITED SELECTION

The Limited Selection line includes a Carmenère-Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

MONTES CLASSIC SERIES RESERVA

These are everyday wines that look to respect the expression of each terroir and each grape variety. Within this line, there is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

MONTES SPECIAL WINES

Quality and innovation have always been part of Montes’ philosophy. The special wines line looks to reflect that through its three very different wines: Sparkling Angel, a traditional method sparkling wine, and Cherub, a fragrant rosé.

 

About the winemaker

Aurelio Montes father and son are both winemakers at Viña Montes.

 

Visiting Montes winery

Their Feng Shui winery is beautiful to visit, especially the cellar where angels are suspended over barrels and classical music plays ad infinitum, and the Francis Mallmen-led Fuegos de Apalta restaurant in the vineyard is second to none.

Montes offers tours of the winery and tasting as well as other experiences such as a picnic and hiking along the botanical trail. It is a 6 km long trail that takes you through their vineyards up the slopes of Cerro Divisadero, where you can identify different species of native trees, bushes, and plants while enjoying the stunning views of the Apalta Valley.

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You can book any of these experiences on Montes’ website

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FUEGOS DE APALTA RESTAURANT

Enjoy lunch surrounded by the vines at the Fuegos de Apalta restaurant. The restaurant is led by Francis Mallmann and features meat, fish, and vegetables prepared with different types of fire in the specially designed dome located in the centre of the restaurant paired with wine list where you can choose among the different vintages of Montes wines and others from the Colchagua Valley.

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Fuegos de Apalta is open from Monday to Sunday from 12:30 – 4 pm and Fridays from 7 – 9:30 pm.

You can make your reservation by emailing at [email protected]

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