Best Valley Wines Chilean Wine Importers

Discover Casas del Bosque winery and Casablanca Valley

Casas del Bosque is a small winery located in Casablanca Valley, a tiny, stunningly beautiful, seaside gem of a terroir, located in the sunny north of Chile's wine-making country. It is blessed by warm sun (32oS places it on an equivalent latitude to Casablanca, Morroco) and insistently cool Pacific breezes that are tempered by gently sheltering hills. (Some might even call the winds "cold" - fans are necessary to lift the chilly air off the vines in winter. See the picture for proof!)

Casablanca has been recently "discovered" by several wine publications in the United States, who (deservingly) gush over its unparalled whites and Pinot Noir. Of course, Chileans have known about it for years! In 1993, Juan Cuneo Solari, the visionary son of Italian immigrants, established Casas del Bosque winery on the favored western edge of Casablanca. His winery remains true to its mission to produce boutique wines in small quantities. This labor of love has brought balance and joy to his life as owner of Chile's largest and most prestigious retail clothing chain.

Laura and Eduardo have loved Casablanca since 1996 when they began racing sailboats at Algorrobo, only a few miles from Casas del Bosque.

More importantly, Bordeaux resident David Morrison first discovered Casablanca in 1997, while looking to source grapes for another Chilean winery, Terra Mater. David was enchanted by the "best Sauvignon Blanc grapes I've ever tasted," and his love affair with this unique microclimate began. David, the consulting wine-maker at Casas del Bosque, met an enthusiastic sponsor in Don Juan; they've been working together for over five years, supported by an admirable local staff, including on-site wine-maker Vicente Johnson. Casas del Bosque was among the first in the valley to pioneer Pinot Noir plantings back in 2000. The most recent group to "discover" Casas del Bosque are the French; the team won a gold medal at the prestigious Chardonnays du Mond competition in France, a sort of "holy grail" from the land of Chardonnay.

It feels good to be discovered and win awards, but just as US publications "discovered" something most Chileans already knew, it's no surprise that David's style resonates in France. He has embraced French wine-making since he first worked at Chateau Petrus in 1985 (living in the kitchen!), as well as Maison Joseph Drouhin and many other renowned estates. He shares intimate anecdotes about his over two decades as a wine-maker in this interview.

Everyone at Casas del Bosque is serious about their commitment to making world-class wine in small quantities, but as you'll see from their photos, their inspiring joie de vivre Bosque reminds us to appreciate nature's beauty and live joyfully among friends. Join us!

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