A love story between two passionate people
From Chile to California
Quintessais the product of passionate individualsAgustin and Valeria HuneeusBoth originally from Chile, the couple began their careers in the wine industry inChileAgustin began his career as the general manager of a small Chilean winery, tasked with making it the largest in Chile. Valeria, on the other hand, studied medicine but ultimately turned to her passion for viticulture and oenology. A few years later, they left their homeland together to escape the country's political tensions. They arrived in New York in the 1970s, and Agustin continued his professional career with great success, as did his wife, Valeria. Agustin managed wine businesses worldwide. Valeria, meanwhile, pursued a doctorate in her initial field of study: biochemistry. For ten years, she conducted research for the Veterans Administration and the University of California, San Francisco, before returning to the wine industry as a winemaker. In 1990, this passionate couple joined forces to found a common project, Quintessa. The Chilean couple immediately recognized the potential of the land...Rutherfordwhich are teeming withexceptional biodiversity.Upon arriving at this location, the Huneeus family's sole objective was to create the greatest wine of theNapa Valley. Today,Quintessaproudly welcomes its visitors and offers a unique tasting experience in a peaceful setting.
The lands of Napa Valley
A geological mosaic
The lands ofQuintessaThey were, before its construction, devoid of any vines.Quintessais a "natural mosaic," nestled between hills and valleys. The estate is also graced by Dragon Lake, thus benefiting from a wide variety of soils and microclimates. The vines are planted on three different soil types. On the eastern hills, the soil is composed of white volcanic ash. The plots surrounding Dragon Lake benefit from deep gravelly soil. The plot located near the Napa River is composed of clay-sand and gravelly soil. These vines thus support a wide variety of grape varieties, such as...Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carménère and Petit VerdotAll grape varieties are used in varying percentages to create the blend.QuintessaLeaving plenty of room for the king of grape varieties.Napa Valley: THECabernet Sauvignon.
A privileged place
Biodynamics governs the rhythm of the vineyards
The couple's philosophy upon discovering the beauty of these natural lands was to develop viticulture in a responsible and respectful way. They thus turned to aorganic farming and then biodynamic farmingin order to bring the best to the earth. Valeria Huneeus goes further in her environmental philosophy by stating that: “Quintessashould be cultivated in a way that respects the earth as a living entity.” This philosophical approach has allowed them to create unique wines vintage after vintage.
Each year, the vineyard teams learn about their land and work in harmony with nature, producing wines of character. Today, Agustin and Valéria Huneeus are supported by an equally dedicated team, including Rebekah Wineburg, the estate's winemaker and an integral part of the business. After some thirty years, the estate unveils two new wines:
- Quintessa, the estate's flagship wine, with floral, fruity and forest notes and very smooth tannins.
- IlluminationSauvignon Blanc, is a white wine possessing great freshness with fragrant notes.
