European Grapes thriving in Chile

The history of wine growing in Chile dates backto the Spanish colonization of the region in themid-16th century, the settlers planted vineyards to produce wine for religious ceremonies and daily consumption, and now Chile is established as a major player in the global wine market.

The two wines here are from one of the best know wineries in Chile, Viu Manent. Located inthe Colchagua Valley, one of Chile's most renowned wine regions, It was founded in 1935 when the Catalonian immigrant Miguel Viu-García and his two sons Agustín and Miguel Viu-Manent founded Bodegas Viu in Santiago de Chile. They bottled and sold wine on the local market under the “Vinos Viu” brand. Initially the family focused on a negociant wine business, however, in 1966 they fulfilled a long held ambition and bought the Hacienda San Carlosde Cunaco and the vineyards in the Colchagua Valley from which they had long sourced their wines. The estate included 150 hectares of noble, pre-phylloxera vines. Here we have two oft heir flagship wines, the Gran Reserva Chardonnay and the Secret Carménère.

The Chardonnay is made using grapes from aspecially selected vineyard located in the Litueche. Viticulture in the area is possible because of the oceanic influence where warm summer days and cool nights, combined with sea breezes and fog ensure the grapes develop slowly attaining full ripeness.

Hand picked and whole bunch-pressed, 40% of the wine is then fermented in oak with native yeasts, and then aged in French oak barrels for seven months to add depth and richness to compliment the ripe fruit flavours and notes of salinity that arise due to its proximity to the sea. A truly impressive wine that shines with character.

The second wine is the red from agrape that has a particular affinitywith Chile, Carménère. Originallyfrom Bordeaux, France, Carménèrewas thought to be Merlot in Chile formany years until its true identity was discovered in the 1990s.

In the late 19th century, whenphylloxera devastated Europeanvines, Carménère largelydisappeared from Europeanvineyards. However, it survived inChile, where it was often mistakenfor Merlot. In the 1990s, through DNA testing, it was revealed that a Chardonnay does so well inChile due to the coastalfactors. significant portion of what was believed to beMerlot in Chile was actually Carménère.

Carménère has become a source of pride for Chilean winemakers, where the diverse climateand terroir contribute to the distinctcharacteristics of the wines. The warm days andcool nights in many Chilean wine regions, andespecially in the Colchagua Valley, help thegrapes ripen slowly, preserving acidity and developing complex flavours. 

The Viu Manent Secret wines are made in amodern style and make the most of the primaryfruit characteristics of each grape variety. Whilstthe dominant grape variety is expressed on thelabel, 15% of the blend of each wine is kept aclosely guarded secret, they also have greatlabels designed by Chilean artist Catalina Abbott!