We have signed up for a wine tour and on Tuesday Mick picks us up at a nearby hotel a little before 10am. As he drives us to the Maipo Valley we learn that he is originally from California and was a semi-pro snowboarder. He's been living in Chile permanently for the past four years and last year he married a Chilean woman. He's a second level sommelier and considering going for third level.
Our first winery is Perez Cruz. It's considered a boutique winery in Chile, producing 100,000 cases a year. We have a private tour of the winery with Maria José. They have just started harvesting grapes from their vineyards and we get to see the operation close-up. Maria José is very informative - this is one of the best tours we have ever taken. When we discuss a stage of wine production she will sometimes ask the men and women a technical question and translate their response for us. Some of them even alter their activities to be able to demonstrate for us, such as the man treating the used barrels with sulphur gas. We talk with the Assistant Winemaker as he is supervising a crush.
As part of the cellar tour Maria José pulls 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon first from an American Oak barrel and has us taste and discuss. Then we taste the same vintage wine that has been asking in French Oak and discuss. We talk through how their everyday level of wine is aged 60% in American and 40% in French, while their mid-level and premium wines are 100% French.
Following the tour we taste two of their wines, the Reserva Cabernet and the Limited Carmenere. The Reserva level is actually their "everyday wine". Normally Carmenere has too much green pepper notes for both of us, but it is not predominant in their wine and it is delicious. We buy a bottle to enjoy at the apartment.
Following the tour we taste two of their wines, the Reserva Cabernet and the Limited Carmenere. The Reserva level is actually their "everyday wine". Normally Carmenere has too much green pepper notes for both of us, but it is not predominant in their wine and it is delicious. We buy a bottle to enjoy at the apartment.
Then we are off to Santa Rita Winery which was established in 1880. As we drive Mick discusses the walnuts, fruits and vegetables grown in the area as well as the climate. At Santa Rita have a tasting (actually two 3- oz pours) of the Triple C and their Malbec. I really like the Triple C, which is a blend of Carmenere, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Conch Y Torro is our last winery. This operation is huge with vineyards and wineries in Chile, California and New Zealand. Mick has made reservations for us at their restaurant. We have a good meal on the patio then take their tour along with another 20 English speakers. We visit the grounds, vineyard and cellar, learning the story of the devil while doing three small tastings. Following the tour we meet Mick at the bar within their restaurant for a tasting of a premium wine.
We chat with Mick on wine and a huge range of other topics as he drives us back to Santiago, arriving at 6pm. Terrific day!
We chat with Mick on wine and a huge range of other topics as he drives us back to Santiago, arriving at 6pm. Terrific day!
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