Longaví Winery was founded in 2016 by Chilean winemaker Julio Bouchon and South African winemaker David Nieuwoudt, who share a passion for crafting wines that express place with minimal intervention. Based in the Maule Valley, the project focuses on old, dry-farmed vineyards, many planted as bush vines several decades ago, which naturally yield concentrated yet balanced fruit. The founders were particularly drawn to Mediterranean varieties such as Carignan, Grenache, and Monastrell, seeing strong parallels between Maule’s climate and regions in southern Europe. Their philosophy centers on traditional farming and low-intervention winemaking, including native yeast fermentations and limited use of new oak. By prioritizing older vineyards and gentle cellar practices, they aim to highlight both the history and raw character of the region. The 2024 “Republica” is a blend composed of 80% Carignan, 15% Grenache, and 5% Monastrell (Mourvèdre), sourced from old, dry-farmed bush vines in the Maule Valley. It is fermented with native yeasts in cement tanks and then aged in neutral vessels, such as large, well-used barrels, a process designed to preserve the wine’s freshness while allowing the pure character of the fruit to shine.