Humboldt Coastal Wine Currents

“Humboldt Coastal Wine Currents of Chile” has been further defined by Joaquin Hidalgo, of Vinous. He delivered important insights, flavors to expect, and details about this region in a recent ZOOM presentation. His lecture, and the wines chosen to taste, opened up a delightful new world of lean and succulent flavors. This was all rolled up and defined into one great whoosh of the South Pacific Coastline’s air currents.

It is defined by the daily flow of waters actualizing their force from nature, due to earth spinning on its axis. The force sets off winds patterns following the shapes of land masses, pushing currents into differing directions. These are triggers for those exact moments and places in time.

Humboldt Current, Southern Hemisphere with an explanation from Joaquin Hidalgo. Image taken during the Zoom meeting. Map created by Wines of Chile.

FAVIKON’S BRIEF BIO of Joaquin: “Joaquín Hidalgo is a journalist specializing in wines and foods. He shares his passion for imagery, readings, and music on social media and is is associated with @vinomanos and @vinousmedia. His posts include wine recommendations, tasting events, and articles on different wine regions…celebrating the art of journalism, especially in the realm of wines. Joaquín engages with his audience through a blend of visual and written content, creating a space for wine enthusiasts to explore and enjoy.”

Humboldt Current’s Coastal Wines©. Jo Diaz photo, all rights reserved

Two Questions Joaquin Asked

One was, “How is it possible that a tropical latitude can produce cold-climate wines of the kind found on the coast of Chile?”

And, the second one was, “Why do Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive all along the 600-mile wine- producing terroir of the Chilean coast?”

Digging Up Answers

According to Joaquin Hidalgo, “the ocean’s currents play a major effect on vineyards in this area, mentioning weather patterns across the globe. Behind some of the most distinctive wines of Chile lie amazingly unique flavors.” I can attest to this, because I was sent the above samples. The flavors for each were quite unique, rich, unctuous, and yet angular. I didn’t expect that, because I had never truly experienced all of these pieces coming together. The ingredients? Cool seas, dry morning weather in the summer and then morning mists converge for an intriguing terroir’s afternoon. Voila!

The Magic of The South Pacific

It’s all due to an underlying current in cold Pacific waters. Being in the southern hemisphere, with a coastline perfect for sweeping air currents, has a lot of influence. This is an interesting macro dynamic, I had never thought about. The distance between the southernmost point of Chile and the northernmost point is approximately 2,653 miles (4,270 kilometers).

Notice in the image the sweeping winds take up the entire country’s coastline into a cove-like shape, and then it heads back into the Pacific. It’s a very interesting phenomenon and I have to believe that the wines I was provided as samples told my palate all I needed to know about unique flavors.

STOCK IMAGE: Chile in red on a globe with reflective ocean waters. 3D illustration with highly detailed realistic planet surface. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. Purchased image, all rights reserved.

Terroir Examples

Terroir example: Casablanca, Chile is a small city located in the Valparaíso Region of central Chile. It’s known for its winemaking and beautiful scenery. Spanish conquistador Domingo Ortiz de Rozas, is credited for founding the city, in 1753. It now has several vineyards and wineries, and is know for producing some of Chile’s finest wines.

This region has cool seas during the summer, with morning mists. The combination is excellent for grape growing, where air currents run from south to north. In California, we mostly equate this phenomena with Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. And, of course, Oregon is aligned with the West Coast, as their coastline also takes center stage with Pinot and Chardonnay.

Joaquin Answers Terroir

These Chilean Chardonnays tend to have low pHs and a delicate ripeness, and Chilean Pinots have lively flavors and vivid colors. They have a “well-rounded fruity profile, at a latitude of 33° south.” He likes it to “the equivalent in the northern hemisphere of San Diego in the US or Lebanon in the Middle East, which is thanks to the modulating effects of the Humboldt Current.

If its influence was localized, this would just be an interesting anecdote, but the Humboldt defines weather patterns along over 600 miles of coastline.

This is creating the driest desert in the world and disrupting the global climate through the Southern Oscillation, better known as the El Niño phenomenon.”

STOCK IMAGE: A winemaker inspecting a wine for clarity. Purchased image, all rights reserved.

pH Defined for Consumers

The Importance of The Humboldt Current

According to Joaquin, “of all the great oceanic currents, the Humboldt stands out. First, because it generates one of the richest maritime ecosystems in the world. Second, it’s so large and cold that it affects the coasts of South America. This is from the 50th to the 4th parallels.  And, whenever it shifts course, weather patterns around the globe change completely. The Humboldt is so potent that it’s no wonder any wines grown on its doorstep will be affected.”

The Humboldt Current was first described in the 17th century by a Spanish naturalist on his travels through the Indies. He subsequently studied with German naturalist Alexander Von Humboldt, during his travels through South America. His detailed account is called Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions, of the New Continent, during 1799 to 1804. On this journey, Von Humboldt established several foundational principles, which includes the concept of nature as a set of interacting climatic and biological systems. This approach holds true to this day, which became The Humboldt Current, named in his honor, because it was inspired by his  groundbreaking research.

STOCK IMAGE: Purchased image, all rights reserved.

Success with Chilean Wines

I always enjoy Chilean wines, and I have some hint why, now that I attended the Wine Class on Zoom. I have examples of earlier tastings if you’re interested. Cabernet Wines ~ Chile Sample Program of 2022 ~ An Education at the Highest Levels. Another example is Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Vina Concha y Toro.

First, I’d like to say about both the white and red wines, they were each really delicious. They had leanness and were elegant, including  some oak treatments. I now know how to attribute the Humboldt Currents, keeping wine grapes flavors to being more linear, in their cooler life cycles. I was really impressed. A lot of it also had to do with Joaquin Hidalgo’s education and enthusiasm.

• First, I’d like to say about both the white and red wines, they were each really delicious.

Wines Tasted ~ Chardonnay, left to right

First, I’d like to say about both the white and red wines, they were each really delicious. They had leanness and were elegant, including  some oak treatments. I now know how to attribute the Humboldt Currents, keeping wine grapes flavors to being more linear, in their cooler life cycles. I was really impressed. A lot of it also had to do with Joaquin Hidalgo’s education and enthusiasm.

Miguel Torres Cordillera, Chile Chardonnay Chile 2023 ~ This is a Maiop Valley wine, located in the Central Valley region of Chile, just north of the Rapel Valley and south of Santiago. The vineyards altitude ranges from 1,300 to 2,500 feet above sea level,. It’s where air expands and cools as it rises. These wines are fresher, for me. Cool sea breezes have a lot to do with pristine flavors of this wine.

Viña Santa Rita, Floresta Chile 2021 ~ This one is from Limarí Valley, Coquimbo ~ It has complex, mélange of flavors that are quite interesting, like a Mediterranean fruit salad I can pick in my yard. Think Meyer lemons, peaches, pears, and persimmons. It also reminded me of Meyer Lemon blossoms.

Viña Montes Montes Alpha Chardonnay Chile 2022 ~ Another delicious Chilean white wine, this one was also quite intense. The rugged conditions seem to create hardy wine grapes. Each one had a complex nose, this one especially.  This translates right into its delicious flavors. This one is a bit more tropical, verses Mediterranean. You’ll understand when  you do the swirl and sniff. Pineapple and mango pop right into mind, followed by banana and ripe peaches. It’s over three miles inland and in a central valley zone. It seems to have some protection, bringing out more tropical fruit. Quite delicious.

Chilean White wines, served with fabada asturiana, Spanish white bean stew with chorizo, bacon and blood sausage. Purchased Image.©

Red Wines Tasted ~ Pinot Noir

Viña Concha y Toro Amelia Pinot Noir Chile 2022 ~ I have enjoyed quite a bit of Concha y Toro, over the years. In fact, they’ve always done a great job with their winemaking. This Pinot was exciting and I was really delighted to taste their well crafted wines again. For me it has mostly been their Cabernets. Finding them in Puerto Rico, a few years back, meant I didn’t have to spend a lot of time deciding which wine to buy. In fact, we got the bottle and headed right for the sand and surf. Go find it!

Viña Garcés Silva Boya Pinot Noir Chile 2020 ~ This vineyard overlooks the sea, which is going to highly affect the grapes with cool breezes. This weather condition keeps the Pinot fresh and bright in flavors. What they have declared on their website, and I do agree with them, having tasted this Pinot Noir. They are “Recognized as a vineyard that marks…winemaking…trends in style, personality, and quality.” What I had to remind my self with each wine I tasted, these are not wines I’ve tasted from anywhere else in the world, to date. They are wines from the Humboldt Current.

TerraNoble Algarrobo Pinot Noir Chile 2023 ~ Young and bright, this final Pinot in the lineup of Humboldt wines was really delicious, as with all of the other wines. This is on their website, and not something you can find on a commodity wine (creating over 50,000 cases, let’s say).  From the winery, “To be noble is a virtue that exists intuitively. To be admired, respected, trusted. Our land is humble and honest, unaware of its virtues.” It’s color was a medium bodies red. It’s nose and flavors were about fresh fruits, like strawberry, red cherries and a bit of gerramiums. It’s a medium bodied wine with graceful tannins and a lovely finish.

Chilean with red wines and empanadas.