Around 17 years ago, a group of winegrowers and winemakers decided to look at one of Chile’s great forgotten treasures through a new lens.
What began as a series of conversations about the old Carignan vines of the Maule Valley evolved into an ambitious project aimed at preserving and promoting this unique winegrowing heritage.
On October 18, 2011, the first VIGNO – Vignadores de Carignan labels were officially launched, marking the creation of an association dedicated to protecting and promoting these historic vineyards.
Thanks to the support of the Cluster Vinos de Chile 2020 initiative and the commitment of its members, the project flourished. Today, VIGNO is a well-established association responsible for managing a collective brand that has become a benchmark for wine lovers and wine critics around the world. Its name embodies a philosophy rooted in origin, the preservation of Chile’s wine heritage, and collaboration.
VIGNO & Pablo Morandé
I have a special affection for this story. From the very beginning, our founder, Pablo Morandé, was deeply involved in shaping the project.
It was he who, during one of the many conversations that helped define the association’s identity, introduced the word “viñadores,” an old term used to describe those who cultivate vineyards. From that concept emerged the idea of incorporating a reference to Carignan through the “gn” root, giving birth to the name VIGNO.
Over nearly fifteen years as a consolidated association, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation. The Maule Valley has gone from being viewed merely as a traditional wine region to becoming one of Chile’s most fascinating wine origins. The old Carignan vines, many of them planted by farmers after the 1939 earthquake and dry-farmed for generations, have finally received the recognition they deserve.
The results of this collective effort are clear. In recent years, VIGNO wines have earned increasingly significant distinctions in international publications and wine guides. Among these recognitions are distinctions awarded to several producers, including Viña Morandé, reflecting the consistently high quality achieved across the association. These accolades are a source of pride for all of us, but they also reflect something even more important: the power of collaboration.
I believe that one of VIGNO’s greatest strengths has always been the willingness of its members to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. While each winery maintains its own identity, there is a collective commitment to quality and to showcasing the value of Maule. This constant exchange has been fundamental in raising the standard of the wines and strengthening the association’s reputation around the world.
Celebrating VIGNO’s fifteenth anniversary is a celebration of the people who believed in the potential of these old vines. And also, of all those who continue to work so that the legacy of Maule Carignan remains alive and increasingly relevant for future generations.
Ricardo Baettig
Winemaking Director