The Evolution of Quintessa
Quintessa is not just home to vineyards. It is a keeper of the memories of those who walk it daily. Collectively, these moments, gathered over well-trodden trails, hills, and fields tell the story of Quintessa through the lens of those who created it, and care for it.
The 1990s
Agustin and Valeria were awed by Quintessa the first time they laid eyes on the land. Its beauty and energy seemed primed for something more. In 1989, they purchased the estate and began its transformation, bullish on the potential for world-class red wines from this unique terroir.
Tapping into the energy of Quintessa, Valeria embraced organic farming immediately. With her keen eye, she paid close attention to the land, letting the plants tell her what they needed. Dissatisfied with convention and yearning to approach the land collaboratively instead of extractively, she trod her own path, learning to view the relationship between plant, soil, and human.
The 2000s
Walking and listening to the land also led Valeria to biodynamics. She read extensively on the subject. She met colleagues who became mentors. They considered the land and all its inhabitants as one organism, a philosophy we follow today. In 1996, she experimented with biodynamic farming on two blocks. Mesmerized by the results, it led to a full vineyard conversion by 2002.
2010s to Present
A decade ago, Rebekah Wineburg joined as winemaker. Working alongside Martin Galvan, who has cared for the vineyard for 23 years, she saw in Quintessa a rare dedication to shepherding the land, and brought the same grounded spirit that Agustin and Valeria began with. Her expertise has guided Quintessa to its next chapter.
The success of the vines under biodynamic farming fueled curiosity about the land. We worked to find out what lay beneath the vines, drawing on knowledge gained from experts to guide us in soil and geological explorations.
For Antonia, who joined as estate manager this year, her earliest memories are of running through the property as a child. Quintessa has always been a part of her life. The smell of the air, the vine leaves brushing her arms; it’s innate in her. As the third generation, the daughter of Agustin Francisco Huneeus, she links the past to the future. “It’s not that I’m only building on something that my grandparents started,” she says, “but we’re continuing to build on something for the generations to come.”
