French Precision
French winemaker crafting the acclaimed Pipeño series from historic País vines. Bridging Old World technique with New World terroir in the wilds of southern Chile.
From France to the Bio Bio: a French winemaker's quest to revive Chile's ancestral wine traditions.
Louis-Antoine Luyt brings French technical training to the wild landscapes of southern Chile. Originally from France, he was drawn to the Bio Bio Valley by its unspoiled old vines and the opportunity to work with País—a variety with deep historical roots in the Americas.
As a member of the Sur Natural association, Luyt has become instrumental in defining the natural wine identity of the region. His approach combines rigorous French cellar discipline with respect for Chilean farming traditions, resulting in wines that speak clearly of their origin while demonstrating exceptional craft.
He is best known for his Pipeño series—wines that honor the traditional pipeño style while elevating it through careful vineyard selection and precise, minimal-intervention winemaking.
The Pipeño Series: redefining Chile's traditional farmhouse wine with Old World precision.
Vineyard Selection
Meticulous selection of dry-farmed, old-vine País parcels across the Bio Bio and Itata valleys. Each vineyard chosen for its unique expression of granitic terroir.
French Technique
Application of French cellar principles—native fermentation, gentle extraction, and careful élevage—applied to traditional Chilean varieties and methods.
Natural Philosophy
Zero additives, native yeasts, and minimal sulfur. The Pipeño series represents purity of expression, allowing the ancient vines to speak without artifice.
Granitic soils and dry-farmed heritage across the southern valleys.
Bio Bio Valley
Old vine País cultivated on the rolling hills of the Bio Bio. Cool Pacific influences and granitic soils provide the structure and acidity that define the Pipeño character. Bush-trained vines, many over a century old, produce low yields of concentrated fruit.
Itata Valley
Expansion into Itata's historic vineyards brings additional complexity to the series. Here, Luyt works with even older plantings, some dating to the early 1900s, farmed without irrigation or chemicals by local families.
The Pipeño series and single-vineyard expressions of old vine País.
Pipeño Clásico
The flagship wine. Fresh, vibrant País from multiple old-vine parcels. Red berry fruit, earthy undertones, and a distinct mineral finish. Fermented with native yeasts and bottled with minimal sulfur.
Old Vines NaturalPipeño Granítico
Single-vineyard expression from the most granitic soils. Structured and savory with pronounced mineral character, wild herbs, and red fruit. A wine of place demonstrating the Bio Bio's unique terroir.
Granitic Single VineyardPaís Viejo
From the oldest vines, some over 120 years. Concentrated and complex with layers of red fruit, smoke, and earth. Aged in neutral vessels to preserve purity. Limited production.
120+ Years LimitedMoscatel de Alejandría
Dry, aromatic white from old vine Moscatel. Orange blossom and citrus aromatics with surprising texture and saline minerality. A departure from the typical sweet style, treated with the same precision as the reds.
Dry Aromatic"Wine is the most profound expression of a place. My role is to translate the voice of these ancient vines."
Louis-Antoine Luyt represents a unique cross-cultural dialogue in natural wine—French technical heritage meeting Chilean ancestral vineyards. Through the Pipeño series, he demonstrates that tradition and precision need not be opposites, creating wines that honor the rustic elegance of the Bio Bio while achieving a level of clarity and definition that transcends borders.