Viña La Rosa

Viña La Rosa was founded in 1824 by Francisco Ignacio Ossa y Mercado, a mining professional from northern Chile. He acquired the estate in the Cachapoal Valley from Manuel Blanco Encalada, who was the first president of Chile, as a gift for his eldest son, Gregorio Ossa Cerda. This purchase included existing vineyards, cellars, and the estate house. The vines were originally imported from France before the phylloxera epidemic hit Europe, which preserved older genetic material for the property. The Ossa family has maintained continuous ownership for six generations, with Ismael Ossa Errázuriz serving as the current chairman since 1987. Under the leadership of Recaredo Ossa in the 1930s, the company underwent expansion and modernized its agricultural operations.

The estate is located in the Peumo commune of the Cachapoal Valley, situated between the Andes and the Coastal Range. Winemaking is overseen by chief winemaker Gonzalo Cárcamo, who joined the winery in 1998 and took his current role in 2011. He works alongside winemaker Cynthia Ortiz Vidal and vineyard manager Rodrigo Navarrete. The vineyards are divided into three primary sectors titled La Rosa, Cornellana, and La Palmería. Soils in these areas are varied and include volcanic, alluvial, and colluvial formations influenced by the nearby Cachapoal River. Recent viticultural efforts have focused on mapping and segmenting the 531 hectares of vines to better reflect specific geological origins. This approach is exemplified by the Cornellana Volcano Sedimentario line, which uses limited intervention to highlight the mineral characteristics of the volcanic soil.

The producer is widely recognized for its Carménère, a grape variety that thrives in the Mediterranean climate and warm days of the Peumo appellation. Its portfolio includes a top tier flagship blend named Ossa, created to honor the founding family and produced only in favorable years. Other notable labels include the Don Reca line, named for the fifth generation leader, and the La Capitana Single Vineyard series which includes Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. While the winery historically produced ripe and classical red styles, recent vintages have shifted toward a more refined profile with a focus on texture and balanced acidity. As one of the oldest operating wineries in Chile, it maintains a presence in the international market with estate bottled wines.