Ep 216: Exploring País and the Secano Interior of Maule Valley with Derek Mossmann Knapp, Winemaker and Co-Founder of Garage Wine Co (Part 1)

Hello wine friends, and welcome back to another episode! Today, we’re taking a journey to Chile — but not just any part of it — to the Maule Valley's Secano Interior, a region that feels like a living history book. Here, it's less about polished, commercial wines and more about soulful, authentic expressions. There’s a strong movement to preserve heritage grape varieties and protect ancient vines, and I’m thrilled to be joined by someone who knows this better than anyone: Derek Mossman Knapp of Garage Wine Co.

Derek was recently honored with the prestigious Old Vine Hero Special Award for Overall Impact in 2024, recognizing his incredible contributions to old vine preservation, viticulture, and winemaking. As a founding member of VIGNO (Vignadores de Carignan) and MOVI (Movimiento de Viñateros Independientes), Derek is deeply committed to tradition, terroir, and artisanal winemaking. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating story of País — the very first grape to arrive in Chile in the 1500s — and explore what makes the Maule Valley such a special and historic place for wine.

If you want to skip ahead:

 

02.30: How Toronto native Derek Mossman Knapp ended up in Chile.

03.30: From hobby winemaker to starting an export wine business.

05.00: Partnering with small growers to make authentic wines.

08.00: Coastal Range terroir: granite soils and old vines.

10.00: Preserving rural food traditions like wheat milling.

11.30: Maule’s slower lifestyle rooted in agriculture.

12.00: Derek wins Old Vine Hero award.

14.00: Building a community around old vine viticulture.

15.00: Honoring Spanish heritage with grape naming.

16.30: Reviving País as Chile’s historic grape.

19.10: Tasting and discussing the Garage Wine Co. Revival Old Vine País 2021 (£17.95 - Currently £12.95 Slurp)

20.00: Praise for País as a fascinating wine with great interest despite its light style.

22.52: The difference between Maule Valley and the Secano Interior

23.51: Cauquenes known for concentration of old-vine País

25.00: Use of old País rootstocks for grafting new varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon.

26.30: Challenges of working with old, non-mechanized bush vines; need for focus and intention in the wine.

28.00: Plowing methods and regenerative farming; complex issues regarding irrigation and water management.

29.16: Mention of the low annual rainfall in Maule, with poor water retention in certain vineyards.

32.00: Fair compensation for workers and building a business around smaller, more focused projects.

33.00: Building a dedicated team to handle pruning, plowing, and harvesting; ability to pick on flexible schedules.

35.40: Hard work and passion required for wine production; a labor of love in the winemaking process.

36.00: Discussion of the future of Maule wine production on the global stage; challenges in the wine trade.

37.00: Wines that have differentiated themselves are faring better than those following trends; focus on quality over scale.

 

Any thoughts or questions, do email me: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat

If you fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Until next time, Cheers to you!

 

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