[PHOTO: Jo Diaz]
The fourth in a series about Sustainable Chilean Wines…
- Intro – Chilean Wines that Collectively Underline Chile’s Historic Commitments.
- Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Maquis Gran Reserva
- Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Koyle Family Vineyards
- Now – Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Tarapacá
I’m in a process of learning… So welcome, especially if you’re learning somethings, too, about Chile. This story is composed from the following:
- Research on other sites
- Viña’s Website
- My own “Oh Wow” moments, from what I’ve already learned
- And, you can add another element in the comments section, if you wish
Sustainability Efforts ~ Wines of Chile
Sustainable 365
The Wines of Chile Sustainable 365 program brought delectable samples to my door, from South America. The beginning of their terroir defined…
“A Climate Defined by Superlatives and Strong Currents” The world’s narrowest country (averaging 110 miles wide), and also its longest, north to south (2,653miles), Chile is wedged between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes mountains to the east, with a long strip of coastal mountains parallel to the Andes adding to the mix. So, not only do most viticultural areas enjoy a “two-fer” of maritime and alpine influences, but those influences are extra-strength. This is a country of extraordinary climatic diversity: dry desert in the far north, cool-wet in the far south, and varying degrees of Mediterranean climate between the two. It is sometimes useful to view Chile as a series of thin, parallel strips running north-south: the coast, the coastal alpine range, the Andes to the east, and the area between. “
[PHOTO credit: Copyright: alessandro0770 / 123RF Stock Photo]
Colchagua Alto Valley Snapshots
FROM: South America Wine Guide
“Chile has a denomination problem. Large swathes of vineyards are grouped under umbrella classifications and Colchagua is one of them. The valley spans 120km [74.56 miles], with vineyards stretching from the coast, through the coastal mountains, into the fertile valley floor and creeping into the Andean foothills. It covers diverse territories and makes diverse wines. In a bid to differentiate the regions of Colchagua, the valley is often split into Costa (the coastal wines), Entre Cordilleras (the valley floor) and Andes (the foothills). Colchagua Andes makes some of the most distinctive wines in the valley so I was keen to get to grips with what marks it as distinct.” Written by Amanda Barnes
FROM: VOGUE
“This Chilean Valley Is a Red Wine Paradise: If you prefer your wine inky, with bold berry and tobacco notes, then an exploration of Chile’s Colchagua Valley could very well be your dream trip. Known for exclusively producing full-bodied red wine varietals like the country’s famed carménère, this under-the-radar wine haven is emerging as a paradise for oenophiles everywhere.” — by Michaela Trimble
Sandwiched between the Andes Mountains and the Coastal Mountain Range, the valley’s granitic and volcanic soils merge with an arid Mediterranean climate, causing grapes to ripen slower, often with little intervention.
[PHOTO: Jo Diaz]
Viña Tarapacá
Gran Reserva 2019
The Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva 2019 is made with organically grown grapes. This is always a plus for me. It means that no unnecessary chemicals went into the production of this wine. The following are my thoughts on the Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva. I also appreciate that this one is a blend of grapes found in the Colchagua Alta Valley… it’s like a cornucopia of flavors that we’d only find in a blend.
“Farmed since 1874 in Isla de Maipo, Chile’s traditional vinous heart, the estate is known for its diversity of soils that enable it to successfully grow an array of grapes. This five-grape variety wine has upfront notes of wild herbs, flowers, ripe black fruit, like sarsaparillas, along with subtle vegetal notes from the Cabernet Franc and lavender and violet notes from the Merlot.
“Sustainability Pillar: Planting more than 11,000 native trees and shrubs restore the natural environmental balance and reconnect the biological corridors between the Altos de Cantillana mountains and the River Maipo through the estate’s 5,000 acres of vineyards.”
BLEND:
- 31 percent Cabernet Franc
- 26 percent Syrah
- 22 percent Carménère
- 11 percent Merlot
- 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon…
…A whole lot of Bordeaux and a good amount of Syrah, the headliner, Rhône variety.
The flavors, represented in the Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva 2019, are well blended in this melangish medley. It was soft, ripe, and rich with ruby fruit flavors, like juicy plums. I picked up blackberry on the nose, and then the ripe plum, with a touch of cigar and leather, on the palate. The finish lingered with a hint of butterscotch. This is a really delicious wine. By now I was very appreciative of Chile, for all that it offers in the way of wines being crafted south of the equator. This is a true value wine, just like the others that I’ve been enjoying. The BEST part? Truly, the sustainability efforts.
This red blend allows for our imaginations to decide for ourselves the best way to enjoy the wines with food. For me, it would be tapas.
History of Viña Tarapacá
[PHOTO of Viña Tarapacá Manor’s front door view, located in Isla de Maipo – a region of Santiago, Chile]
In my opinion, the of the most important things a winery can treasure is its history; so, when it has its own museum, it tells us about the integrity of the owners, who are sustaining what has come before their stewardship.
[PHOTO: Viña Tarapacá]
I get a sense from this house of everything Spanish flourishing… right down to grape growing to wine making, and then to tasting the wine. An undisclosed red blend allows for our imaginations to to decide for ourselves the best way to enjoy the wines with food. For me, it would be tapas.
INSIDE: The main hall is rich with continuing Spanish influences, with a wrought iron staircase and balcony safety guards, to a hand-forged crystal chandelier. The floor is in the famous checkerboard flooring. From the Bath Outlet about checkerboard flooring: (History of the Checkerboard…Design Element)
“Checkerboard floors were present in 15th century European paintings and the design can be found in ancient artifacts, including Iranian ceramic vessels. Bronze Age pottery displayed the staggered square design in pieces from as early as 1500 BC. The design can even be found in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Once stone and tile began being used to make floors, the ancient Romans began incorporating the design into their buildings. During the Renaissance, the pattern become popular with artists and designers. Again, the checkerboard was used in many paintings but not just fictional. Paintings of real life events, like royal weddings, often showed checkerboard floors in ballrooms and other large living spaces. In the late 1680s, a black and white checkerboard pattern was used on the ground floor landing of the Queen’s Staircase at Versailles.”
The following video, with Sebastian Ruiz, is produced in that old fashioned, travel type videos. It has its charm, because we’re talking about the impassioned, Spanish personality. So far, every Spanish event I’ve attended (said she – Jo Diaz), has filled with alegría de la vida.This one is also on the romantic side, filled with details.
Join Sebastian Ruiz, Winemaker at Tarapacá Vineyard, and live an experience that transports you to Rosario Estate at the heart of Maipo Valley, the place where Gran Reserva Tarapacá, The Gran Reserva of Chile is made. Tarapacá Vineyard is a Chilean Winery with over 140 years of winemaking experience. The multi-awarded wine, Gran Reserva Tarapacá, is stored in a unique an iconic bottle, its label features the emblematic house of Tarapacá.
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