#OldVineWeek seems like the perfect time to introduce our new producer Viños CoPa – a tiny project solely focussing on Rio Itata’s ancient vineyards, the oldest in Chile, from a clutch of small family growers brought together into the CoPa family of small ferments and tiny volumes.

Old Vine País, estimated to be over 150 years old

It has been a long time since we took on a new producer from Chile, largely because the ever-evolving Emiliana and Tabalí portfolios remain so contemporary and relevant. However with our passions for New World old vines it was only a matter of time before we worked with Chile’s Itata Valley. Viños CoPa is a team of just two, Rodrigo Concha and Sebastián Paganelli, sourcing ancient vine fruit from family growers scattered across the southerly slopes of this verdant valley.

Sloped Torontel Vineyard

The Itata Valley ranges across the granitic coastal mountain range north-west of Concepción, with 70% of the vines being dry-grown, ungrafted Moscatel & País, the latter grown for centuries for the production of communion wine. Other ancient plantings include Cinsault and Semillón – a pair of varieties that seem to thrive in old age, when their character really blossoms.

The CoPa line up

CoPa’s wines have the ironically typical energy of very old, low-yielding vines. We introduce 3 wines initially, a bright, linear Torontél, an ethereal 120 year old vine País and an alluringly aromatic Cinsault which will be available to order from the 27th of March.