THE HEART ~ Matetic Family

Matetic Vineyards is a family-owned, biodynamic project located in the Coastal Valleys of San Antonio & Casablanca in Chile. The Matetic family arrived in Chilean Patagonia back in 1892. They were originally from Rijeka (today it’s in Croatia). In 1999, the fourth generation of the family, after a detailed study of the terroir conditions, was absolutely confident about the great potential of El Rosario Valley; so the family planted vineyards on the slopes of this protected environment within the San Antonio appellation. Thus, it became a pioneer in Chilean cool-climate Syrah. Since the beginning of their project, motivated by the vision of the late Alan York, they embraced organic and biodynamic agriculture as a way of crafting wines with a sense of place, looking for a balanced expression of coastal terroir, making a commitment to their environment and to future generations. Today they farm more than 150 hectares (370 acres) of certified organic & biodynamic vineyards focusing on cool climate varietals. Understanding their whole vineyard as one organism, they take care of the fertility of their soils by applying biodynamic compost (all of which is made on the estate), seeding  cover crops and cultivation of the rows.

THE SCIENCE ~ Terroir

Located in the “El Rosario” valley, a subdivision of the San Antonio Valley on the central coast of Chile. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the foothills of the Coastal Range, El Rosario is a completely enclosed valley with a surface area of 9,000 hectares (22,200 acres) and perpendicular to the ocean. Featuring ideal conditions for growing red and white grape varietals, their vineyards are located just 13-19 km (8-12 miles) from the ocean with an elevation of 260 meters (850 feet) above sea level. Enjoying a gentle Mediterranean climate with a long dry-season, the vineyards benefit from the proximity of the Pacific Ocean. The cold waters have a positive influence, translated into early morning fogs rolling down the vineyards, lifted by the gentle afternoon breezes coming from the sea. The average maximum temperature in summer is 26° C (78° F) and rainfall averages 350 mm (13.8 inches) which mostly falls in the winter. The dramatic fluctuation in temperature, moderate warmth of the day and the cold nights helps to achieve a slow ripening process. This results in a high concentration of aromas and flavors in the grapes along with great natural acidity. Granitic soils in Chile are only found near the mountainous Coastal Range. These ancient soils exhibit advanced degrees of evolution and weathering being rich in quartz minerals with a sandy texture and low nutrient contents. They allow the roots to deeply explore the soil profile and also have excellent drainage. EQ stands for Equilibrio, the Spanish word for balance. EQ represents their quest for balance and their desire to craft unique terroir wines, with flavors that reflect the origin of the grapes. EQ wines are elegant, complex with many layers and will age gracefully over a long period of time.