Terra Noble

Don Jorge Elgueta founded Terra Noble in 1993 with the aim of producing quality wine in the Maule Valley. At that time, the region was still more of a mass wine production area, so a decent quality standard could not develop. His conviction that the soil of the valley was suitable for this is reflected in the name Terra Noble.

Terra Noble and the false Merlot

Planting was started with "Chilean Merlot". In 1994, after DNA studies, it was discovered that the grape variety was Carménère, which is visually similar to Merlot, but is a different variety and offers a different taste profile. The grape variety was originally also native to France, but became almost completely extinct there due to the phylloxera plague.

While some winegrowers tried to cultivate the "real" Merlot, Terra Noble remained with the Carménère, which was to become the estate's flagship grape variety. Don Jorge died in 2003 and the German entrepreneur Wolf von Appen joined Terra Noble.

The wine of Terra Noble

The grape varieties grown today at Terra Noble are:

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir
• Merlot
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Carmenere
• Carignan

The wines are available in three quality levels, Reserva, Gran Reserva, as well as the site wines Gran Reserva - Las Dichas.

Terra Noble and the Terroir

The Maule Valley, centrally located in Chile, is the largest wine growing region in Chile. The Maule River flows here from the Andes into the sea and provides vital water. At one of the highest points of the valley is the La Higuera vineyard of Terra Noble.

The climate is Mediterranean, cool nights and hot days alternate, the soil consists of alluvial sediment. The wines produced here have rather soft tannins. The Carménère is well adapted to the environmental conditions, allowing it to thrive here. The Sauvignon Blanc, which achieves optimal results in the Mauletal, can also benefit from the climate.

In addition to the Maule Valley, Terra Noble today also owns vineyards near Casablanca and in the Colchagua Valley. Three vineyards are spread over these regions, in which only red grape varieties are cultivated.

Research in the Terra Noble cellar

In the cellar, Marcelo García holds the reins in his hand. Even though the wines of Terra Noble have already reached a high standard, they have not stopped researching. Every year, new small series are vinified with new methods, and other containers are tasted, such as 300-liter barrels or foudres with capacities ranging from 2000 to 5000 liters, concrete tanks or ampoules.