WANDERING WITH WILLIAM
  • Home
  • Blog

Wine Tour of Maipo Valley with Sommelier Guide

3/20/2018

0 Comments

 
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.
Picture
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.
Picture
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.

Picture
​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.

Picture
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!
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Hi.  I'm Anne.  I wander around the world with William.


    Enjoy Some of our Favorite Links below
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014


    Categories

    All
    9138
    Albuferia
    Alicante
    Ambato
    Antarctica
    Argentina
    Armenia
    Atlantic And Islands
    Barcelona
    Cambodia
    Cartegena
    Chile
    Colombia
    Costal Rica
    Cuenca
    Easter Island
    Faro
    Hungary
    Iceland
    Jaco
    Jakarta
    Knoxville TN
    Kuala Lumpur
    Lisbon
    Loule'
    Malta
    Medellin
    New Zealand
    Olon
    Panama
    Porto
    Portugal
    Santiago
    Scotland
    Seville
    Singapore
    Slovakia
    SouthEast USA
    Spain
    Taipei Taiwan
    Tavira
    Thailand Bangkok
    Thailand Chiang Mai
    Uruguay
    Usa
    Valparaiso
    Vancouver
    Vienna
    Vietnam Halong
    Vietnam Hanoi
    Vietnam Ho Chi Minh
    Vietnam Hoi An
    Vietnam Hue

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo from A Vahanvaty