Malleco – Chile's southern frontier

The author, Alistair Cooper MW, sits in a traditional wooden hut with the Mapuche family involved in the making of Tayu wines.

Ali Cooper MW ventures even further south than the terrible fires which have destroyed so many of Chile's oldest vines, to find projects, including one with the Mapuche, which are showing great promise, especially in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Above, Ali seated next to Mapuche chief Guillermo Curín and his family.

The Malleco Valley is one of Chile’s smallest and most exciting fledgling wine regions. In recent years it has attracted the attention of some of the country’s finest winemakers, who are crafting some magnificent wines. It is also located in the poorest area of Chile, one blighted by...