Viña Concha y Toro surprises with a memorable icon wine tasting

The Pirque Casona was the majestic setting for a historic tasting of icon wines, which reunited the best exponents of Chile’s wine industry. Each wine’s winemaker was charged with choosing a vintage for the tasting. All presentations were widely applauded by the audience of experts.

Sommeliers and wine writers from over 51 countries – who were visiting Chile in the context of the World Sommelier 2010 competition held in Chile – were the perfect attendees for this wide-ranging tasting which demonstrated how Chilean wineries has worked hard over the years to develop icon wines.

The wines tasted were Quebrada Seca 2008 from Maycas del Limarí; Ocio Pinot Noir 2008; Carmin de Peumo 2005, Concha y Toro’s icon Carmenere; Ge 2006 from Viñedos Emiliana; Almaviva 2007, a wine born from the Concha y Toro and Baron Philippe de Rothschild joint-venture; and finally Don Melchor 2007, Concha y Toro’s flagship wine. These wines take you on a journey across Chile’s different winegrowing valleys and demonstrate our country’s enormous potential as a world-class producer of fine wines.

A memorable tasting

The tasting began with a presentation of Quebrada Seca, icon wine of Maycas del Limarí, a winery located in the north of Chile. This Chardonnay fully expresses the fresheness and luminosity of Limarí. Winemaker Marcelo Papa highlighted the wine’s fruit and minerality, both elements faithful reflections of this new northern valley.

The tasting then moved south to the Casablanca and Leyda Valleys where the seacoast influence can be seen in Ocio Pinot Noir 2008, presented by its winemaker Adolfo Hurtado. The Rapel Valley was third in turn with a tasting of Carmin de Peumo, a Carmenere wine originating in the ancient terraces of the Cachapoal River and an area where Concha y Toro has done extensive research for this emblematic variety. Ignacio Recabarren, Carmin de Peumo winemaker, explained why Concha y Toro is absolutely convinced Peumo is the best terroir in Chile for this variety.

Next was the turn for Viñedos Emiliana, whose biodynamic wine Ge strongly reflects the relationship between a wine’s origin, respect for the environment and the cycles of Nature. Ge is the first certified biodynamic wine in Chile, and its widely-praised quality was presented by winemaker Alvaro Espinoza. Ge originates in Viñedo Los Robles, a vineyard located in the heart of Emiliana’s agricultural project.

Towards the end of the tasting came Puento Alto Vineyard, located in the Maipo Valley where the modern Chilean winemaking industry was founded. The River Maipo’s north shore is the vineyard where Almaviva originates, a wine equivalent to France’s Grand Cru. It is a unique wine, created in a great terroir and exclusive winemaking cellar. Michel Friou, Almaviva winemaker, was in charge of presenting the 2007 vintage. The tasting ended with Enrique Tirado’s presentation of Don Melchor, who presented the 2007 vintage which celebrates 21 vintages of this emblematic Chilean wine. In 2010 Don Melchor vertical tastings will be hosted throughout the world to celebrate this anniversary.

In all a perfect tasting that drew plenty of applause from the audience. Attendees included Concha y Toro President, Alfonso Larraín, its CEO Eduardo Guilisasti, Viñedos Emiliana CEO Rafael Guilisasti, Viñedos Emiliana Agriculture Manager José Guilisasti, and Almaviva CEO Felipe Larraín.

This activity was carried out within the program set out for the Sommeliers of the World 2010 competition. Concha y Toro, official sponsor of this competition, invited all participants for a visit to the winery, including a tasting in the morning and followed by lunch.

The tasting was attended by important personalities from the world of wine, such as the President of the International Association of Sommeliers (A.S.I.), Kazuyoshi Kogai, the President of Chile’s Association of Sommeliers, Hector Vergara as well as Concha y Toro’s top executives and directors.

After the tasting guests walked around the imposing Casona de Pirque the dining area where they were enjoyed a four-course lunch in charge of Chef Guillermo Rodríguez. The courses were accompanied by Amelia, Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc and Carmenere, Marqués de Casa Concha Merlot and Don Melchor. Upon leaving, guests took with them a special gift, the book “Red grapes, Hidden treasure: the Carmenere wines of Chile”, published by Concha y Toro. Short texts and beautiful photography describe how the Carmenere variety has achieved outstanding quality in the Cachapoal Valley, located in Chile’s 6th region.