The Basque Immigrant, the Organic Pioneer & the Maipo Hand
Teillery is a family winery in the Maipo Valley of Chile, founded by Joseph Teillery — a man who arrived from Cambo, France, in the heart of the French Basque Country, bringing with him the noble art of vineyard growing and winemaking. For more than 90 years, the family has been intertwined with wine, but it was under José Teillery — agronomist, graduate of the Universidad de Chile, and holder of an enology degree from the Université de Bordeaux — that the estate found its true voice. In 1997, José planted 73 hectares of organic vineyards in Los Guindos — chosen specifically for its relative isolation from other plantations, which eliminated the risk of contamination from chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Certified organic by Ecocert since 1998 — and later by JAS and USDA Organic — Teillery was a pioneer in a country where organic viticulture was virtually unknown. In 2009, the family pushed further: they produced Chile's first 100% organic wine made not only with organic grapes but with no sulfites or any other chemical additives whatsoever — a wine called Total that remains the purest expression of their philosophy. Today, José leads the project alongside his daughter Solange, farming 100 hectares total in Los Guindos and Isla de Maipo, producing a portfolio of organic and natural wines that range from fresh Sauvignon Blanc to structured Gran Reserva reds — all vegan, all honest, all Always Organic.
The Basque Vigneron, the Bordeaux Degree & the Teillery Hand
The story of Teillery begins not in Chile but in Cambo, France — a small town in the French Basque Country, near the Spanish border, where the Teillery family lived and worked the land for generations. Joseph Teillery left this homeland and crossed the Atlantic, bringing with him the noble art of vineyard growing and winemaking — a craft learned in the foothills of the Pyrenees and refined in the cellars of rural France. He settled in Chile, and for decades the family worked in wine, building a reputation for quality and tradition. But it was the third generation — José Teillery — who would transform the family project into something revolutionary.
José is not merely a winemaker; he is an agronomist with a degree from the Universidad de Chile and an enology degree from the Université de Bordeaux — one of the most prestigious wine universities in the world. He could have followed the path of the large industrial wineries that dominated Chile in the 1990s: high yields, chemical inputs, mass production. Instead, he chose the opposite. In 1997, he planted 73 hectares of vineyards in Los Guindos, a small town in the Maipo Valley, with a singular vision: to cultivate organically from day one. Not converted vineyards. Not partially organic. But 100% organic, certified, and isolated from the chemical agriculture that surrounded them.
The choice of Los Guindos was deliberate and strategic. José selected the site for four reasons: the weather, the high quality of the soil, the irrigation system, and — most importantly — the relative isolation of the vineyards from other plantations. This isolation eliminated the risk of contamination from chemical fertilisers and pesticides drifting from neighbouring farms — a practical necessity for true organic viticulture in a country where conventional agriculture was the norm. In 1998, Teillery became one of the first Chilean wineries to receive organic certification from Ecocert. Later, they added JAS and USDA Organic certifications, confirming their commitment to international standards. But José was not satisfied with organic grapes alone. In 2009, he produced Chile's first 100% organic wine made with no sulfites added — a natural wine called Total that proved Chile could make clean, stable, honest wine without any chemical intervention whatsoever. This is not industrial winemaking; it is Basque-Chilean viticulture as a life project — a family tradition refined by Bordeaux education and Chilean terroir.
"Minimal intervention allows us to preserve the purity, identity, and quality of our grapes throughout the entire production process, transforming them into wines that capture the essence of our terroir."
— Teillery Winery
Los Guindos, the Maipo Valley & the Isolated Hand
The Maipo Valley is the heart of Chilean wine — the country's most famous and historically significant wine region, stretching south and west of Santiago along the Maipo River. It is a valley of contrasts: the flat, irrigated alluvial plains near the river produce the bulk of Chile's export Cabernet Sauvignon, while the foothills of the Andes — the Maipo Alto — offer cooler temperatures, poorer soils, and the potential for more elegant, terroir-driven wines. It is here, in the town of Los Guindos, on the southern edge of the valley, that José Teillery chose to plant his organic vineyards — not in the most prestigious subregion, but in the most isolated and pristine.
The Teillery estate spans 100 hectares total, with 73 hectares under vine in Los Guindos and a winery in Isla de Maipo. The vineyards are planted to a diverse portfolio of varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay — the classic grapes of the Maipo Valley, but farmed with a radical difference. The soils are alluvial and colluvial — a mix of clay, sand, and gravel deposited by the Maipo River and the Andean foothills — providing good drainage, moderate fertility, and a mineral backbone that runs through every wine. The climate is Mediterranean with a strong continental influence: warm, dry summers with high diurnal temperature variation, and cold, wet winters that provide natural dormancy and water reserves for the dry season.
The defining characteristic of the Teillery vineyards is not the soil or the climate, but the isolation. José chose Los Guindos because it was far enough from conventional farms to avoid chemical drift — a practical, almost defensive choice that has proven visionary in retrospect. The vineyards are 100% organic since day one, certified by Ecocert, JAS, and USDA Organic. No synthetic pesticides, no chemical fertilisers, no herbicides. The vines are tended by hand, the soil is nourished by natural compost and cover crops, and the ecosystem is protected by the absence of neighbouring chemical agriculture. For the Teillery family, Los Guindos is not just a vineyard site; it is a sanctuary — a place where the Basque tradition of working with nature, not against it, could take root in Chilean soil.
Los Guindos is a small town in the southern Maipo Valley, far from the glamorous wine tourism circuit of the Alto Maipo and the Colchagua Valley. It is a place of modest farms, quiet roads, and relative isolation — precisely the qualities that attracted José Teillery in 1997. The isolation means no chemical drift from neighbouring plantations, no industrial agriculture on the borders, and no pressure to conform to the high-yield, high-chemical norms of the Central Valley. For Teillery, Los Guindos is not a disadvantage; it is the project's greatest asset. The town offers something that the more famous subregions cannot: purity, peace, and the space to farm organically without compromise. It is a place where the Basque tradition of respecting the land can flourish, and where the Maipo terroir can express itself without the mask of chemical intervention.
The Maipo Valley is Chile's most historic wine region — the valley where the first vines were planted by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, and where the modern Chilean wine industry was born in the 19th century. It is a valley of two halves: the flat alluvial plains near the river, where industrial wineries produce millions of litres of Cabernet Sauvignon for export; and the foothills of the Andes, where cooler temperatures and poorer soils produce more elegant, structured wines. Teillery sits in the southern Maipo, in a zone that combines the warmth of the valley floor with the freshness of the Andean breeze. The soils are alluvial and colluvial — a mix of clay, sand, and gravel that provides good drainage and moderate fertility. For the Teillery family, Maipo is not just a region; it is the canvas on which their Basque-Chilean vision is painted.
The Teillery vineyards cover 73 hectares in Los Guindos — a substantial estate by Chilean standards, but farmed with the care and attention of a small family plot. Every hectare is certified organic by Ecocert, JAS, and USDA Organic. The vines are tended by hand, the soil is nourished by natural compost and cover crops, and the canopy is managed to maximise natural airflow and minimise disease pressure. The isolation of the site means that the vineyards are not just organic on paper; they are organic in practice, with no chemical contamination from neighbouring farms. The result is grapes of unusual purity and intensity — Cabernet Sauvignon with a mineral edge, Carménère with herbal freshness, Merlot with silky texture, and Sauvignon Blanc with crisp, saline acidity. For José, these 73 hectares are not a business asset; they are a living proof that organic viticulture can thrive in Chile.
The Teillery winery is located in Isla de Maipo, a historic town in the heart of the Maipo Valley known for its traditional adobe architecture and its deep connection to Chilean wine history. The winery building is a white-walled, arched structure with large clay amphorae — tinajas — standing guard at the entrance, a visual reminder of the family's commitment to tradition and natural winemaking. Inside, the cellar combines modern hygiene with old-world techniques: stainless steel tanks for temperature-controlled fermentation, old barrels for ageing, and minimal intervention at every stage. The winery is not just a production facility; it is the family home — a place where José, Solange, and the extended Teillery family live, work, and welcome visitors. For them, Isla de Maipo is the physical and spiritual centre of the project — a Basque-Chilean home where wine is made with patience, pride, and respect.
The Natural Yeast, the Zero Sulfite & the Minimal Hand
José Teillery's winemaking philosophy is rooted in a single principle: let nature guide the way. After decades of studying enology in Bordeaux and agronomy in Chile, José came to the conclusion that the best wine is the one that needs the least intervention. In the cellar, the family uses indigenous yeasts for fermentation — no commercial inoculation, no enzymes, no nutrients. The wines ferment at their own pace, in stainless steel tanks for the fresh whites and young reds, and in old oak barrels for the Gran Reserva lines. Temperature is controlled gently, not aggressively — enough to preserve freshness, but not so much that the wine loses its natural character.
The Total — the family's natural wine — is the purest expression of this philosophy. Made from 100% organic grapes with no sulfites added and no chemical additives whatsoever, it is fermented with wild yeasts, aged briefly, and bottled with nothing but the grape's own essence. The result is a wine that is alive, honest, and deeply expressive of the Los Guindos terroir — a wine that carries the imprint of the Basque tradition, the Bordeaux education, and the Maipo soil. The Gran Reserva lines — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère — receive longer ageing in oak and more structured winemaking, but they share the same organic foundation: no synthetic chemicals in the vineyard, no artificial additives in the cellar, and no compromise on quality.
All Teillery wines are vegan — no animal products are used in fining or filtration. The wines are minimally filtered, if at all, preserving their natural texture and microbial complexity. The family's commitment to minimal intervention is not a marketing strategy; it is a practical belief that the best wine is the one that presents the landscape with honesty and purity. From the organic vineyard to the natural cellar to the vegan bottle, every step of the Teillery process is designed to preserve the identity of the grape and the essence of the terroir. This is not industrial winemaking; it is Basque-Chilean viticulture as a life project — a family tradition refined by science, guided by nature, and executed with patience.
The Zero-Sulfite & Organic Covenant
The guiding principle of Teillery's cellar is that the best wine is the one that needs the least technology. The Total — 100% organic, no sulfites added, no chemical additives — is the purest expression of this belief. Indigenous yeasts capture the microbial fingerprint of the Los Guindos vineyard — the wild yeasts that live on the skins of organically grown grapes, in the air of the Isla de Maipo cellar, and in the alluvial soils of the Maipo Valley. The absence of sulfites means the wine retains its natural microbial complexity and living texture. The absence of synthetic chemicals in the vineyard means the grapes arrive at the cellar with their own natural defences intact — healthy skins, balanced acidity, and concentrated flavours. The minimal filtration keeps the wine's natural body and aromatic intensity. And the vegan philosophy ensures that no animal products compromise the wine's purity. The cellar is a quiet, clean space where a Basque-Chilean family lets the organic grapes and the Maipo terroir do the talking.
Total, Gran Reserva, Reserva & the Organic Hand
The Teillery portfolio is diverse, organic, and entirely family-made — wines that range from the pure natural expression of Total to the structured elegance of the Gran Reserva lines, all sharing the same organic foundation and Basque-Chilean soul. The Total is the flagship natural wine — 100% organic, no sulfites added, no chemical additives — a raw, honest expression of the Los Guindos terroir. The Gran Reserva lines — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère — are the estate's most structured and age-worthy wines, aged in oak and built for depth. The Reserva lines — Syrah and Carménère — offer approachable, fruit-forward expressions of the Maipo Valley. And the white wines — Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay — are fresh, crisp, and mineral, perfect for the Chilean summer. All are vegan, organic, and made with minimal intervention — wines that are honest, vibrant, and deeply expressive of their place.
The Basque Dream, the Organic Pioneer & the Maipo Hand
Teillery is not merely a winery; it is a living legacy — the story of how a Basque immigrant from Cambo, France, crossed the Atlantic with the noble art of vineyard growing, and how his grandson, José Teillery, armed with a Bordeaux enology degree and a Chilean agronomy diploma, planted 73 hectares of organic vineyards in the isolated town of Los Guindos in 1997 and produced Chile's first 100% organic wine with no sulfites in 2009. In an era when Chilean wine was defined by industrial scale, chemical agriculture, and the homogenisation of flavour, the Teillery family demonstrated that the most profound wines sometimes come from isolated organic vineyards, farmed by hand, fermented with indigenous yeast, and bottled with no sulfites, no additives, and no compromise. It is largely thanks to pioneers like Teillery that organic viticulture, natural winemaking, and vegan certification now have a place in the Chilean wine conversation. The same isolated plots that the industry ignored have become, through the Teillery family's work, a source of some of the most honest, pure, and deeply place-driven wines in the country.
The legacy of Teillery is the legacy of the patient, Basque-Chilean hand in viticulture. José is not a typical Chilean winery founder: he is a Basque-French agronomist with a Bordeaux enology degree, who chose isolation over prestige, who planted organic vineyards when no one else in Chile was doing so, who certified his farm with Ecocert, JAS, and USDA Organic before organic wine was fashionable, and who produced the country's first zero-sulfite natural wine in 2009. He does not chase trends. He does not chase scores. He makes wines that range from the raw natural expression of Total to the structured elegance of Gran Reserva Cabernet, Merlot, and Carménère — and he makes them all with the same organic foundation, the same Basque patience, and the same Bordeaux rigour. The zero sulfites in Total is not a compromise; it is a philosophical stance that allows the wine to remain honest, unmanipulated, and deeply connected to the isolated soils of Los Guindos.
The future of the project is tied to the future of organic viticulture and natural winemaking in the Maipo Valley — to the growing recognition that the best wines come not from the most heavily chemicalised vineyards but from the most committed guardians of isolation, organic certification, and minimal intervention. As the Total continues to set the benchmark for natural wine in Chile, as the Gran Reserva lines prove that organic Cabernet, Merlot, and Carménère can achieve world-class structure and elegance, and as the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay demonstrate that even the most popular white grapes can express Maipo terroir with purity and precision when farmed organically, José Teillery — alongside his daughter Solange and the extended family — remains what he has always intended to be: a Basque immigrant who became a Chilean pioneer — a man who trusted the isolated soils of Los Guindos, the organic vineyard, and the patient hand of nature, and who built something enduring in the Maipo Valley. The dream is not finished. It is just beginning to vine.
"Family and wine go hand in hand for many years. Their vineyards were born in the 20th century when Joseph Teillery arrived in Chile from Cambo, France. A visionary approach led Teillery to the organic path."
— Wijnkoperij Alex Storms, Netherlands