▻ Grape Varieties in Chile

Let's Talk About

25 Sept

Written By Sarah Kemp

In conversation with Gerardo Leal, of Santa Rita Estates

Brought to you by our Founder Sponsor SANTA RITA ESTATES.

Find out about them here.

Episode Summary:-

Santa Rita Estates, our Founding Sponsor, release their iconic wine Santa Rita Casa Real 2021, on the Place de Bordeaux on September 25th. In this podcast, Sarah Kemp talks to their viticulture manager, Gerardo Leal, about which regions in Chile are best suited for different grape varieties.

Chile is 4,300 kilometres from north to south, but only 350 kilometres wide, and the country’s landscape is dominated by the Andes, the world’s longest mountain range. Gerardo explains that, traditionally, grapes were grown in the central valley, in the appellations of Maipo, Colchagua and Maule. In the last 15 years, however, new valleys, such as Leyda, have been discovered, which are more suited for cool-climate grapes like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Climate change has pushed producers to look further afield in the last ten years, especially due to lack of water availability, and today producers are planting in areas further to the south and north than before.

Santa Rita Estates is a good example, with pilot plantings of new varieties as far afield as a new area on Chiolé island, in the south of Chile. In terms of where Gerardo believes grapes are best suited, he is emphatic about several sites, for example that Maipo is best for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile’s most popular red grape, while for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay he advises Limari, in Northern Chile, and also discusses the more well-known Casablanca Valley’s suitability. One of Gerardo’s favourite varieties is Carménère, and he believes one of the most important appellations for it is Alpata in Colchagua Valley

Also, in terms of flexibility, “Syrah is a plastic grape,” Gerardo reveals, and believes it does well in different terroirs, but suggests Elqui as one of the appellations where it does best. Looking to the future, he declares optimistically, “We have opportunities for varieties we don’t have yet in Chile.” His personal last bottle if he had to choose one which wasn’t Cabernet Sauvignon? “Pinot Noir, with it you are tasting the different regions of Chile.”

Running Order:-

0.00 – 16.16

“The most prestigious wines from Chile are made from Cabernet Sauvignon.”

– Chile’s length and width.
– The original valleys where grapes were grown.
– The new regions where wines are being produced.
– Climate change, heat strike and water availability.
– Where Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grow best.
16.17 – 32.09

“We have opportunities for varieties which we don’t yet have in Chile."

– Carménère – its history and where it grows best.
– Syrah – the “plastic grape”.
– The regions Gerardo is most excited about.
– The last wine Gerardo would choose (excluding Cabernet Sauvignon!).

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