About the Brand
Points of Distinction
- Grapes grown on rare, historic Malbec vines from Chile's esteemed Maule region
- From winemaker of Alta Vista Winery, pioneering elite Single Vineyard wines in Mendoza, Argentina
- Expertise of famed native Bordeaux Winemaker, Didier Debono.
Modeled on success
Founder Didier Debono has a successful track record, most recently with highly acclaimed Alta Vista Winery in Mendoza, Argentina, owned by d’Aulan. Alta Vista was the first to craft single vineyard Malbec wines from Argentina; these wines have become benchmarks, achieving some of the highest ratings ever awarded to Argentine wines. The rediscovery of Chile’s rare and historic old Malbec vineyards could not be in better hands.
In good hands
A Bordeaux Winemaker, Debono boasts a prestigious resume including Chateau Clinet and La Croix du Casse in Pomerol and Classified Growth from Saint-Emilion Chateau Sansonnet, also owned by the d’Aulan family until 2008. In order the secure the best vineyard sourcing, d’Aulan and Debono teamed up with Jose Manuel Donoso and Laurent Teillet, two well-established growers from the Maule region. Their expertise in sourcing the best ancient Malbec vines combined with Debono’s savoir-faire has yielded very unique 100% Malbec wines that reveal the true characters of the great terroirs of Southern Chile.
The Vineyards
Over a five year period, the Altamana team carefully mapped the historic Malbec vineyards throughout the Maule winegrowing region to find the best terroir. Located in between the Pacific Ocean and Andes Mountains, Altamana’s vineyards are protected from excessive heat and benefit from particularly cool nights. This climate favors the development of excellent fruit character along with soft and elegant tannins. Vines of 60 years or older provide low yields of superb quality fruit.
The winery
Altamana’s cellar reflects the winery’s mission, with historic adobe walls and restored wooden beams that date back to the early 1900s. The building’s design helps preserve appropriate temperatures in all seasons. Small volume epoxy-lined concrete vats, similar to those used by winemakers in Bordeaux and Burgundy, allow for natural temperature control an ideal pomace-to-wine ratio. The Single Vineyard wine is crafted without sulfur and both the Single Vineyard and Grande Reserve wines are bottled without clarification or filtration, to allow the full expression of these rare vines.
