The Itata valley is the oldest winegrowing area in Chile. The first vineyards date from the 1550’s, and were planted by Spanish settlers. A hundred of years later, the winegrowing evolution was so important that even the Spanish wine producers for America, who saw their shipments decrease, forced King Felipe II to forbid the plantations on the valley, which was later abolished.

In the eighteen century, the Chilean winegrowing industry was guided to the wine exportation to the Spanish colonies of all over Latin America. A significant volume of wines coming from this area was embarked from the Tomé port.
During the nineteenth century, the areas around the south of Maule supplied the country with four fifths of Chilean wines, according to the book “Una historia de cinco siglos”.
 

The authors confirm that “the vines have shown their innovative potential.

 
Even though there were some historical circumstances that changed the panorama: U.S.A and Australia were experiencing the gold rush, focused only on that, wheat was sought in countries like Chile. The landscape layout changed from green to yellow. The vineyards were changed for wheat, pine trees, and other non native trees, as Moya and Mariángel explain it in the book “Tiempos de Fogón, mujeres de Itata”.

Rediscover an interest in the area, give life to the strains, patients who have waited for hands to collect every grain in the hope of good wine is now recognized. The authors confirm that “the vines have shown their innovative potential. There are many encouraging signs. “It is the result of understanding the Valley what drives the production of distinctive wines Itata.