Documentary and Outreach UCM
As part of the Outreach Plan of the Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences of the Universidad Católica del Maule (UCM) and the ANID Anillos de Investigación project (ATE-230028, period 2023-2026): "Biodiversidad de costa a montañas: Un estudio socioambiental de las prácticas (eco) culturales de las comunidades rurales en un escenario de cambio climático", the documentary "Vides Centenarias: Paisaje Cultural del Vino" (Centennial Vines: Cultural Landscape of Wine) is presented .
This audiovisual production highlights the intangible and productive heritage linked to traditional winemaking in the Maule region, and is part of the strategy "Bringing Fair Trade to UCM", with the aim of strengthening the dialogue between academia, rural communities and productive actors in the territory.
Collaborating in this initiative:
- Cauquenes Dry Grapevine Trade Association
- Trade Association of Small Producers Fairtrade Chile Movement
- Latin American and Caribbean Coordinating Committee of Small Fair Trade Producers and Workers (CLAC)
- Gran Hidalgo Vineyard
- Entre Lomas Winery
- San Alfonso de Cauquenes Church
The documentary was directed by the principal investigator of the project anillos ATE-230028 Dr. Ximena E. Quiñones Díaz, with audiovisual concept by Cristian Yáñez Ilabaca, Magister candidate and thesis collaborator of the ATE-230028 ring project, and musicalization by Manuel Saavedra Duarte.
Documentary Summary:
The work travels through the emblematic inner courtyard of the San Alfonso de Cauquenes Church, a geographical and symbolic enclave that houses centuries-old vines, many of them of Canary Island origin, introduced to Chile in the colonial period. Through the testimonies of small producers and local families, it reconstructs the historical memory of rural viticulture, its traditional practices -such as the use of sieves, jars and commercialization networks by wagons and railroads- and its link with the identity, festivities and daily life of the province.
The piece also highlights the influence of the French Redemptorist order and the way in which European techniques were adapted to the territory, as well as contemporary challenges: decrease of buyers, pressure of modernization and the risk of losing traditions. In the face of this, UCM and its allies reaffirm their commitment to the protection, registration and valorization of agricultural heritage, promoting the recognition and continuity of peasant viticulture.
This documentary is an invitation to reflect on the importance of rural heritage, the intergenerational transmission of knowledge and the articulation of efforts between academia, civil society and productive actors to strengthen the sustainable territorial development of Maule and Chile.