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 […]
Hotting up in Chile
It is telling that most Chileans take their title as a “good-value” wine producer to be a burdensome insinuation that their wines are pedestrian and dull. But that assumption couldn’t be further from the truth with the exciting wine scene in Chile today. Wine producers are tireless in their quest to conquer the far extremes of Chile […]
Argentina Vintage 2018 Report
‘This harvest has been very traditional,’ said Walter Bressia, President of Bodegas de Argentina. ‘ There weren’t rains, the day temperatures were warm and the nights were cool. In all my years as a winemaker I don’t remember a harvest with such excellent characteristics, both for reds and whites.’ Production is up 30% compared to […]
Exploring the wine route of Alsace
Tucked into the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, the picturesque wine route of Alsace boasts ancient castles, medieval châteaux, petite Renaissance villages and more than 800 wine producers. A natural beauty spot, home to some of the finest wines in the world and just a short flight from the UK, it’s surprising that wine tourism in Alsace is […]
Rioja changes its DOC legislation
The Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja (Rioja DOC) recently launched its new campaign Saber quién eres (Know who you are) to promote the modern regional focus of the Rioja DOC legislation, which was updated in 2017. The new legislation reflects Rioja’s growing diversity and gives producers more tools to communicate their specific terroirs. “Rioja is constantly improving, […]
Pioneering island viticulture in Chile
Montes planted two hectares of vines this month on the small isle of Mechuque, on the eastern side of the Chiloé Archipelago, which lies more than 600 miles south of Santiago. It is one of the world’s southernmost plantings at a latitude of 42.6° S and a landmark experiment for island viticulture in Chile. Despite its […]
Santa Rita – A Clean Sweep: Producer Profile, Decanter Magazine 2018
CHANGE IS AFOOT in Alto Jahuel. First planted in 1850, the roots of Santa Rita’s historic 600ha wine estate run deep. This is a site of both viticultural heritage and cultural importance for Chile: it was once a hideout for 120 soldiers during the independence wars, and it was in this same vineyard that Carmenère […]
Cava’s new category – Cava Paraje Calificado
Following three years of paper pushing, Cava’s new, super-premium category, Cava Paraje Calificado (CPC), has been approved and will hit shelves in time for Christmas. This slimmed down Cava category presently includes 12 wines, all of which meet meticulously high standards in a bid to elevate Cava to a world-class sparkling wine category.
Chile’s Central Valley
While most of Chile’s wines come from the Central Valley, they have a reputation of being the least exciting the country has to offer. That is changing, however, with winemakers injecting passion into their products, writes Amanda Barnes in The Drinks Business. PDF: Chile’s Central Valley It is easy to become distracted by what is happening on […]
South America’s Top 10 wine hotels
South America used to be the domain of gap year backpackers and shoestring tourism. That isn’t the case any more. There’s been a boom in luxury adventure tourism across the Southern Cone, with five-star hotels nestled into the desert plains of the Atacama and down to the waterfalls and glacier lakes of Patagonia. In the […]
