ALAI SIDRA/L'ENTREMETTEUSE
LAURENCE RÉAL

Laurence Réal and Pablo Bastias hail from opposite corners of the world but have come together to fashion some of the most exciting ciders, wines and blends thereof we have ever tasted from the Southern Hemisphere. A native of the Basque country in France, Laurence wound her way to the Colchagua Valley in Chile and, subsequently, into Pablo’s orchards. Alai Cider was soon born, out of “passion and professional recklessness.” Its many iterations of apples, pears, quince dovetail with Laurence’s winemaking project L’Entremetteuse, which highlights the mystique of indigenous Chilean varieties in the aptly named Jardin Secret.

Chile, though occupying only a small sliver of South America’s longitude, is a jigsaw puzzle of microclimates. The Colchagua Valley, where Laurence and Pablo call home, is often regarded as some of the most fertile land, not just in Chile but throughout the world. Row upon row of lush vines, co-planted amongst lush vegetation, sit in the shadow of the Andes, painting stunning visuals reminiscent of areas like Piedmont or even Gredos.

The beauty and potential of this place were a siren song for Laurence when she arrived here in 1994 to work as an assistant winemaker at a well-known Bordeaux-style winery in the region. Eventually rising to head winemaker, Laurence developed an urge for creativity—a desire to experiment and reinvent what it meant to be a winemaker here. Because of an exclusive contract, Laurence and Pablo couldn’t make wine for themselves, so they began making their own ciders in house. Unwilling to bend to the demands of new ownership when the winery changed hands, she knew it was time to spread her wings.

Since 2013, Laurence and Pablo have lived in a fantasy land: 50-year old apple orchards, lined with majestic quince trees; vines up to 135-years old, untouched by phylloxera, monuments to the deep and rich winemaking history of this place. The resulting ciders and wines are both an homage to their past and a vision for the future. Alai Cider honors Laurence’s Basque heritage in the context of the bounty that Chile has to offer, while L’Entremetteuse harken back to Bordeaux-style wines while integrating more playful riffs on what natural Chilean ferments have the capacity to be. Taken as a whole, these are creations crafted with years of expertise and love, firm in their individuality, and honest in their place in history.|

L'Entremetteuse is the innovative and playful range by French expat Laurence Réal who established herself in Chile's Colchagua valley three decades ago. She includes some of the classic varieties from the region, like Syrah and Carmenère - both renowned in Colchagua - with her own interpretation, but also promotes the rediscovery of old vines in the region.

These wines are exciting, fun and unconventional. All wines are unfiltered with little or no sulphites added.