The year‑in‑review of from harvest mornings in Sazual to late night tastings in Stockholm.
Our journey through 2025
It was a year of recognition:
Pilar was honoured with the Premio al Mérito Vitivinícola from the Chilean Agronomist–Oenologists ANIAE, [lifetime achievement award from her peers] recognising her trajectory, wines, and most importantly her work with Garage reviving old vines with small growers. The award was significant for a small winery and underlines what Garage has always been about farming old vines with purpose.
A lighter harvest but still lots of heavy lifting,
And there was more recognition:
Cariñena Empedrado Cru Truquilemu 2021 was the No. 2 wine for JamesSuckling in its Top 100 for 2025, highlighting [their words] : the depth, energy and character of old-vine Cariñena from Maule. Not bad for a small, family, farm‑focused winery, to rub shoulders with the country’s biggest names and grandest cellars on a list that champions the cutting edge of meticulous vineyard work, precise winemaking and patient élevage in the cellar— [their words again] ¨that can stand on any world stage¨.
And lots of travels to market
This year Ignacio joined Derek spreading the good word and pouring the wines on the road. We did Master Classes in Holland, Belgium Sweden & UK, poured at Wine Fairs in Sao Paolo, Mexico City, Lima, Toronto, Sonoma, Lodi, Stockholm and Halstad, and finally began a proper distribution in Chile as far South as Torres del Paine.
[5 travelling shots x varios Ignacio somm in Truqui & Iggy in Mex City Fair, lima torres . . .
[6 Derek Sweden, Toronto, CA, London Belgium Amsterdam …]
And farm work — there is no rest for the wicked
And lots of visitors
Come in working clothes we like to say
Many joined us on the farms and with the team and a country lunch to follow with Ester & Christian: Paul-Lobenberg, Merel-Mexico, Aaaron-Peru, Carlos-Colombia, Jim-UK, Al-USA and many others . . .
And we spoke at conferences like the Old Vine Conference in California
In late 2025, Derek travelled to the Old Vine Conference in California, joining a global gathering of old‑vine advocates, writers and growers committed to preserving heritage vineyards. Old Vines farmed with purpose remains our ethos and Derek joined many other old-vine champions on panels and in tastings and discussions: Rosa Kruger, Teegan Passalacqua, Sarah Abbott, MW Alder Yarrow, Stuart Spencer, Greg Jones, Morgan Twain MW & Chris, Scott Stewart, Peter Granoff MS, Michelle Bouffard, Robert Joseph, Jancis Robinson, Paul Draper . . .
Terrific wines, visits, company and ideas. And now the work will continue better aligned with old vines around the world…
And at La Cav Mesa de Cata Awards MoVI won the Jose Guilisasti Award
You must be logged in to post a comment.