Get to know the new DOs in Chile

The creation of four new appellations in Chile was officially announced in May 2018, following publication in the Official Journal of the Republic of Chile, a periodical that formalizes the country’s new laws. Lo Abarca, Licantén, Apalta, and Los Lingues are now recognized as denominaciónes de origen (DOs), and as such, their names can be displayed on the labels of wines produced with grapes—a minimum of 85 percent—from the respective regions.

Here’s what you need to know about the new DOs:

Lo Abarca DO

The Lo Abarca DO comprises 44.5 hectares. Key varieties in the DO are Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Grenache. Lo Abarca is located in the San Antonio Valley in the region of Aconcagua; its climatic designation is Costa.

This DO was pioneered in 2000 by winemaker María Luz Marín of Casa Marín, who planted the area’s first vineyard just 4 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. One of Chile’s coolest coastal wine regions, Lo Abarca has a unique combination of calcareous and granitic soils on the slopes surrounding the village.

“It’s a very radical area,” says second-generation Casa Marín winemaker Felipe Marín, adding that the cool temperatures create challenging conditions for grape growing. “Our yields are very low, and we have a very good concentration of flavors and acidity,” he says. “The wines here are unique and characteristic of Lo Abarca.”

Casa Marín is currently the only producer in the Lo Abarca DO. Its wines are acclaimed for their distinctive aromatics and razor-sharp acidity. The small village of Lo Abarca has become synonymous with the Marín family and is filled with colourful mosaics designed by María Luz’s sister, Patricia Marín, have become an added tourist attraction…

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