TARAPACA Late Harvest 2023

The grapes for Tarapacá Late Harvest come from selected plots in the Maipo vineyard, 40 km from the Pacific Ocean. As every year, this cuvée comes from the last grapes hand-picked during the harvest season. An interesting aspect of this wine is how difficult the grapes are to process. Their high sugar concentration during fermentation and blending calls for patience and delicacy. During fermentation, the natural excess of sugar slows down the yeasts and results in a slow fermentation. This preserves the grape's authentic fresh aromas while generating others, and gives unctuousness and a velvety texture on the palate. The nose is very complex, with aromas of yellow and exotic fruit such as apricot, pineapple, mango and peach, as well as notes of white flowers complemented by a subtle touch of honey. On the palate, the wine is delicate and round, with lively acidity that balances the sugar, ending on a long finish that is concentrated and flavourful.

It was Hernán Cortés who ordered, upon the conquest of Mexico, the cultivation of vines in 1524. It gradually extended from Mexico southwards to reach Chile in 1555. During the first 3 centuries of colonization, there was no Cultivated in Chile as país, a black grape variety without character and very productive. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that noble varieties were introduced: mainly cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. Twenty years later, winemaking was modernized under the leadership of wealthy owners and French experts who were forced into unemployment by phylloxera in Europe.



Chile stretches 4,300 kilometers from north to south. It is wedged between the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes Mountains to the east, the Atacama Desert to the north, 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 has ideal conditions for growing warm, intermediate and cool grape varieties, so much so that it is often described as a paradise for growing grapes. With nearly 300 properties producing bottled wines, Chile fluctuates between 6th and 8th place in the world.