Let's talk little, let's talk wine
The Pewën Carménère cuvée from the prestigious Santa Rita house is a true ode to Chile's emblematic grape variety: Carménère. This distinguished wine comes from the oldest and highest quality plots in the Apalta Valley, in the heart of the Colchagua wine region, renowned for its exceptional terroir. The word Pewën , which means "sacred pine" in the Mapuche language, embodies the original soul of this Chilean land, between tradition and excellence. The vines, dating from 1938 , are cultivated on sloping, poor, granite land , perfectly drained, at an altitude that favors strong temperature amplitudes. This unique microclimate, combining daytime heat and nighttime coolness, allows for a slow maturation of the grapes, essential to achieve the aromatic balance and the desired structure.
The winemaking of Pewën is carried out with rigor and precision. The harvest is manual and selective , followed by fermentation in stainless steel vats, then aging for 18 months in new French oak barrels, which give the wine its depth, elegance and aging potential.
Upon tasting, Santa Rita Pewën Carménère reveals an intense purple color with violet highlights. The nose is very rich, blending aromas of black plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, pepper, Espelette pepper, smoked paprika and dark chocolate . On the palate, the texture is silky, with ripe and velvety tannins, balanced acidity and a long, lingering finish.
Where are we traveling?
Central Valley
Chile's Central Valley (El Valle Central) is one of South America's most important wine-producing regions, both in terms of volume and distance. It stretches from the Maipo Valley (just south of Santiago) to the southern end of the Maule Valley. This distance of nearly 400 km covers several climate types, and this vast region produces a wide variety of wine styles and qualities, from many different terroirs.
Colchagua Valley
Located in the Central Valley of central Chile, the Colchagua Valley is particularly renowned for its red grape varieties. The Colchagua Valley, a word meaning "place of small lakes," was the southern limit of the Inca Empire and later became the place chosen by families of the Chilean oligarchy to build large mansions, some of which still stand. Colchagua is one of the transverse valleys of Chile's Central Valley, whose lands are bathed by the waters of the Tinguiririca River, and is renowned for its excellent soil quality. It has a microclimate perfect for growing grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, which represents a significant portion of the valley's vineyards, as well as the famous lost grape variety of Europe, Carmenere, which produces unique wines. Among the region's red wines, Syrah also stands out.
The little history of the country
Chile
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.