The name of the project translates to “to the brave viticulturists” and is an attempt by Chilean winemaker Leonardo Erazos Lynch to buoy the small farmers who have sacrificed much to retain their old vines and resist the urge to plant more lucrative grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. With viticulture starting with the arrival of the conquistadores in the 1550s, Itata has a long history of winemaking and Cinsault is by far the most planted grape there. Cinsault originated in the South of France but like Malbec in Argentina, Cinsault achieved new heights in its adopted home. Chile’s geographic isolation and vigilance means that it has never had phylloxera and for a few years before the solution of grafting European vines onto American rootstocks was discovered, it was the only healthy and functioning wine industry in the world. The fact that the vines are on their own roots is a significant distinction from the Cinsault still grown in France, where it is used almost always as a blending grape. In the cool climate of Itata, where the lack of a coastal range brings more rain and cloud cover, growing on the granitic and alluvial soils, Cinsault has earned its soloist status. This light-bodied natural wine is made using organically grown grapes and native yeast, with juicy, bright red fruits, flowers and earth that would love an hour in the fridge before you pair it with almost anything.