“Santa Rosa de Lavaderos” is located in the Maule Valley, the main wine producing region of Chile and 250 kilometers south of Santiago.
Is a small, secluded valley surrounded by hills of the Costal Range, the Rivers Maule and Loncomilla. These rivers marked the southern limit of the Inca Empire, then for hundreds of years during Spanish rule and until the beginning of the XX century were navigable and an important trade route. Until the end of the XIX century (when the first steam-train bridge was built), the crossing of the rivers was made with ferries and boats where the rivers Maule and Loncomilla merge, it was the first place with relatively calm waters; this is the reason for which it was named “El Barco” (Spanish for “Boat”).
Past and Present.
Until recently the Valley had few visitors, the roads were unpaved and almost unpassable during the rainy winters. Our uncles remember when some of the roads to nearby farms did not exist and they managed to visit friends and cousins of nearby farms on horseback, through beautiful tracks through the vineyards and hills with native forest.
Modern times and the economic growth of Chile have unquestionable benefits for most of the people in Santa Rosa de Lavaderos. However, at the same time this beautiful Valley faces challenges.
Challenges.
*Some nearby farms are divided and urbanized (urban sprawl).
*Mining of the river beds for gravel, stones and sand. These are raw materials for the construction sector and carried away to nearby cities; this causes a major disturbance to the wildlife and landscape. On the river borders which belong to the family, we have managed to avoid these activities with a great effort.
*Climate Crisis: When you are a farmer, you know this is a VERY REAL issue… there is a clear tendency for harvests to be earlier each season, the weather here is warmer and dryer.
