You want to know more about Lagar de Codegua, we invite you to see our video
THE HISTORY
Viña Lagar de Codegua is located in one of the oldest towns in Chile, dating from 1565, called Codegua.
The winery and vineyards are spread out at the foot of the Andes Mountain, at some 650 meters a.s.l. (2,100 feet) in the tranquil setting of the old Hacienda La Leonera, in the Alto Cachapoal Valley.
THE VINEYARD
The vineyard is planted on rocky soils that are alluvial in origin, with loamy texture and good drainage.
The zone is characterized by its Mediterranean climate that gives the valley a long, warm dry season from September through April, with rain concentrated in the winter months, and an absence of frost in the spring.
OUR WINES
Winemaking is an art, where each bottle must be able to reflect the local climate and soil conditions.
In Lagar de Codegua, we work so that our wine is connected in some way to the earth and its people. Our greatest challenge is creating quality wines with identity and personality.
SCORES AND ACCOLADES
Lagar de Codegua’s wines are known for their style and quality, faithfully representing the Cachapoal Valley.
Viña Lagar de Codegua is located in one of the oldest towns in Chile, dating from 1565, called Codegua.
The winery and vineyards are spread out at the foot of the Andes Mountain, at some 650 meters a.s.l. (2,100 feet) in the tranquil setting of the old Hacienda La Leonera, in the Alto Cachapoal Valley.
The winery and vineyards are spread out at the foot of the Andes Mountain, at some 650 meters a.s.l. (2,100 feet) in the tranquil setting of the old Hacienda La Leonera, in the Alto Cachapoal Valley.
The vineyards were planted in 1998 on rocky soils that originated as the result of a landslide some 12,000 years ago in the last glacial period, beginning in the mountains and ending down in the valley, forming a table of deep soils with good drainage, and thus giving meaning to the name of the town, Codegua: Place of Water and Stones.
THE VINEYARD
The vineyard is planted on rocky soils that are alluvial in origin, with loamy texture and good drainage.
The zone is characterized by its Mediterranean climate that gives the valley a long, warm dry season from September through April, with rain concentrated in the winter months, and an absence of frost in the spring.
The zone is characterized by its Mediterranean climate that gives the valley a long, warm dry season from September through April, with rain concentrated in the winter months, and an absence of frost in the spring.
During the grape ripening season, the temperature doesn’t surpass 29–30ºC (84–86ºF), with a thermal oscillation close to 20ºC (68ºF) between the warm, sunny days and the cool, starry nights. This mix of factors, the alluvial soils and climate, means the vines are naturally restricted, minimizing excess vigor and yield. The vineyard is managed pragmatically: the manure and compost are used to avoid chemical fertilizers. The canals that function due to the glacial melt from the Andes provide water that is used prudently, with drip irrigation in the vineyard, promoting root growth and healthy plants.
OUR WINES
Winemaking is an art, where each bottle must be able to reflect the local climate and soil conditions.
In Lagar de Codegua, we work so that our wine is connected in some way to the earth and its people. Our greatest challenge is creating quality wines with identity and personality.
In Lagar de Codegua, we work so that our wine is connected in some way to the land and its people. Our greatest challenge is creating quality wines with identity and personality.
When beginning this project in 1998, we made the decision to plant principally Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, due to the soil and climate conditions. So for a few years we produced only red wines. With the passage of time we added other red grape varieties, such as Carmenère, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Tannat, in order to fully explore our terroir and create classic blends, less-than-classic blends, and single varieties, including a rosé.
The Cabernet Sauvignon vines come from cuttings from some of the oldest and most prestigious vineyards in Chile, with naturally low yields and small berries that deliver concentrated flavors in the wine. Our Syrah is clonal in origin, being one of the first plantings in Chile. Adapting well to our loamy alluvial soils, this variety produces concentrated wines with great character and fruit. Varieties like Carmenère, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Grenache, and Mourvèdre are cultivated on a smaller scale to be used in different blends and single variety bottlings.
Our wines are made in our two story winery, whose design allows us to use gravity in order to maintain the grape’s quality and potential. The fermentation uses native yeasts at relatively low temperatures to conserve the freshness and varietal characteristics of the grape. The punch-downs and pump-overs are frequent during fermentation, helping with extraction. When the alcoholic fermentation is finished, the wine ages in oak barrels. The second phase, including the aging in barrel and bottle, is done in an adobe structure dating from the early 20th century. Its substantial walls, made from a base of mud and straw, mediate the external temperature changes, maintaining optimal conditions for the evolution of the wine.
SCORES AND ACCOLADES
CLASSICAL LINE OF WINES
This Classic Series has been with us since our inception in 1998, where we focused on the elaboration of classic varieties of great potential and quality in our terroir. Wines and blends based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
CODEGUA LINE OF WINES
Labels inspired by the “fresco mural painting” of one of the adobe walls of our winery give life to the unique style of the less traditional varieties grown in our vineyard.
