Established in 2002, Viña Tabalí is a pioneer and iconic winery situated in Limarí, on the edge of the Atacama Desert in one of the northernmost vineyard regions of Chile. They were one of the first wineries to settle in Limarí and their wines faithfully reflect their place of origin in which climate and soils play a fundamental role, and bring out the potential of each of their vineyards.
The Talinay vineyard is located in the Limarí Valley on the untamed cool coast of northern Chile, It is next to the Fray Jorge National Park, in an area that UNESCO has declared a World Biosphere Reserve. This vineyard is situated in a very special area, 12km from the Pacific Ocean, where there is a constant cool sea breeze. These extraordinary conditions mean that we experience much lower temperatures than the rest of the valley, making this the vineyard with the coolest climate in the whole Limarí Valley. In summer, the maximum temperature is 23.5°C. This is the most important factor in the character of the wines from this vineyard. The vineyards are planted in calcareous soils where the rock is limestone. This is a place with a geological phenomenon that is unique in Chile and that gives a very particular characteristic to the wines. This has come about because it is an ancient marine terrace that is now on the surface. It has a very porous, fractured limestone soil, which enables the roots to easily explore the rock, which in turn acts as a hydric regulator and an extraordinary source of calcium carbonate. This mineral has a significant effect on the quality of the great wines produced in some of the world's most famous wine regions. The cellar at Viña Tabalí was designed and built to be reminiscent of the Molle way of life. Built right on the ravine, the building fits naturally into its environment. The stainless steel tanks stand out against the hills and their vegetation.
Tabalí is the only winery that produces wines that cross Chile from east to west in the same valley (D.O.), from their incredibly high and remote site of Roca Madre (second highest vineyard in Chile) in the Andes Mountains' Rio Hurtado area down to their cool climate, 'Camanchaca' fog blanked vineyards by the Pacific Ocean. In their quest for perfection, they now also have a site in the renowned Cabernet and Merlot region of Maipo Valley. The result is a range of truly distinctive wines with elegance, restraint and minerality which the dynamic team of Felipe Muller (winemaker) and Hector Rojas (viticulturalist) have attributed to their cabinet full of the wine world’s most prestigious trophies. In 2014, Felipe Müller was named 'Chilean Young Winemaker of the Year' and acclaimed for his ability to understand Tabalí's distinctive terroir and use it to create remarkable wines unique to Chile.
Tabalí also has the honour of stewardship for the Limarí Valley’s most significant archaeological sites, the mystical ‘Valle del Encanto’ (Enchanted Valley) which borders their vineyards. A sacred site of the ancient Molle and Diaguita culture, the many rock drawings and carved Tacita stones depict an ancient way of life. The Tabalí mask logo has been taken from one of these rock carvings, which can only be seen at certain times of day when the sun’s alignment makes them magically appear.