Quebrada Chalinga 2022

Located in the Choapa Valley in northern Chile, the Quebrada Chalinga vineyard is rooted in a narrow canyon near the Pacific coast. The vines are planted in very poor, granitic soils, mixed with stones and sand, which naturally limit yields. The maritime influence brings daily cool breezes, while abundant sunshine ensures slow and complete ripening of the grapes. This extreme environment, marked by significant temperature variations, gives rise to a wine that is concentrated, taut, and profoundly marked by its mineral origins.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruit , crisp red fruit , and violet , enhanced by hints of black pepper , sweet spices , and dried herbs , on a delicately oaked and subtly mineral background. The palate is juicy and silky , supported by fresh acidity and fine tannins that structure the whole, with a persistent and mouthwatering finish marked by a return of spicy notes and a sensation of saline freshness .

It was Hernán Cortés who ordered the cultivation of vines upon the conquest of Mexico in 1524. It gradually spread from Mexico southward, reaching Chile in 1555. During the first three centuries of colonization, only país, a characterless and very productive black grape variety, was cultivated in Chile. It was not until the mid-19th century that noble varieties were introduced: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay, mainly. Twenty years later, winemaking was modernized under the impetus of wealthy landowners and French experts who had been forced out of work by phylloxera in Europe. Chile stretches 4,300 kilometers from north to south. It is sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes Mountains to the east, the Atacama Desert to the north, and the Patagonian plains and glaciers to the south. These natural barriers prevented phylloxera from entering the country. Although the country is only 160 kilometers wide, it enjoys ideal conditions for growing grape varieties from warm, intermediate, and cool regions, so much so that it is often described as a vineyard paradise. With nearly 300 estates producing bottled wines, Chile ranks between 6th and 8th in the world.