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Featured Wineries

This is your guide to the best wineries in South America. Read all about the best wineries to visit in Argentina, the top wineries in Chile, the most exciting wineries in Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.

In the ultimate guide to South American wine, we have all the best wineries of South America in one place. Discover our free guide to the wineries of Latin America, including natural wines, family wineries, big brands, quirky wineries and some of the best for wine tourism, winery restaurants and wine hotels. Your guide to visiting the wine regions of South America.

Wapisa wines in Patagonia,Bodega Patagonia Atlántica keeping Malbec under the sea

Wapisa Fincas Patagónicas

by Clorrie Yeomans June 18, 2020

written by Clorrie Yeomans

Embodying the adventurous spirit of vignerons in the south, Wapisa is the coastal vineyard and winery of the family behind Tapiz in Mendoza. With 60 hectares of vineyards in Viedma in Río Negro, it isn’t only the coastal climate and southerly location that makes this wine project unique but also their cellar… which is 10 metres under water!

Wapisa is the first winery in South America to experiment with a submarine cellar, in which their coastal Malbec is plunged into the 15°C watery chamber where a pressure of 1 bar is believed to give it a very different ageing process than what you would expect overground.

About Wapisa wines & winery

Wapisa wines is the Patagonian project of Fincas Patagónicas (see Tapiz in Mendoza) making maritime wines from their 60-hectare vineyard in San Javier in coastal Río Negro. The winery is making Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir so far.

June 18, 2020 0 comment

Featured Wineries Featured Chile Chile Elqui Wineries

Mayu

by Amanda Barnes February 21, 2020

written by Amanda Barnes

Mayu winery is one of the modern wine pioneers of Elqui Valley, making premium wines from the region since 2005. A family enterprise, Viña Mayu is owned by Mauro Olivier and the winemaker is Elqui’s most experienced winemaker Giorgio Flessati.

About Mayu winery

Mayu is the Inca name for the milky way, literally translating as “creek of stars”. Viña Mayu is an independent venture founded in 2005 by Mauro Olivier, the son of Viña Falernia founder Aldo Olivier Gramola. Mauro was raised in Elqui valley and spent his summers working in the family fruit business, which led him into a lifetime career and passion for viticulture and wine. Mauro pioneered Carmenere and Syrah in the Elqui valley, which he planted in 2000.

Viña Mayu has vineyards across a range of different terroirs in the Elqui Valley and the wines are made in the Falernia winery in Vicuña, benefitting from the winemaking expertise of Aldo’s cousin, Italian winemaker Giorgio Flessati.O

Within the vineyards of Mayu there is also an observatory for star gazing!

About the vineyards of Mayu

Quebrada de Talca

These vineyards are close to the coast and the mornings are foggy but in the afternoons the skies are very clear and sunny and there is a significant temperature difference between daytime and nighttime. The terrain is a mixture of flat land and slopes and there is even an observatory at the highest point on the hill known as Cerro Mayu. The soil is of alluvial origin, mainly comprising granite. The plantings here are of Sauvignon Blanc, Pedro Ximenez and Syrah.

El Tambo

Mayu has three areas of vineyards in the El Tambo sector, which is further inland and so experiences warmer, sunnier and drier weather. The mornings can be a little foggy thanks to the moisture from the Puclaro Lake, but this is burned off by the sun during the course of the morning. These vineyards are located at 550 to 650 m (1800-2130 ft.) above sea level. The Yungay Vineyard is planted with Pedro Ximenez with a north-south exposure; the San Carlos Vineyard, which is adjacent to the River Elqui, is planted with Sangiovese and Pedro Ximenez, while the stony alluvial soils of the Rio Vineyard are planted with Carmenère.

La Compania/La Viñita

These vineyards are also inland, near to the town of Vicuña, at an altitude of 650 m (2132 ft.) above the sea level. They are close to the riverbed of the River Elqui River and have clay soils with lots of gravel and are planted with Syrah and Malbec.

Dimaro/La Huanta

These are two of the highest altitude vineyards in Chile: La Huanta at 1925 metres above sea level and Dimaro at 1000 metres, planted with Pedro Ximenez grapes.

About Mayu wines

MAYU VARIETALS

The range includes crisp, monovarietal whites from Pedro Ximenez, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, along with warm-climate reds from Carmenère, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.

MAYU RESERVA

The Reserva range also consists of monovarietal reds from Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Malbec, plus a Carmenère-Syrah blend. A novelty in this line is Mayu Carménère Appassimento made from 40% normal Carmenère grapes and 60% Carmenère grapes that have been air-dried using the “Appassimento” method commonly associated with wines like Amarone.

MAYU DON AMERIGO

There are two wines under this label – a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Syrah.

MAYU GRAN RESERVA

Also a range of warm, comforting monovarietal reds from Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

About the winemaker, Giorgio Flessati

Italian-born Giorgio Flessati started making wine in Elqui in the late 90s and is the most experienced winemaker in the valley, pioneering premium wines in what was traditionally a Pisco region. He has been winemaker for Viña Mayu since it was founded in 2005. In the video below he explains some of the unique conditions which make Elqui valley an attractive wine region to produce wine in:

Video of Mayu winery

February 21, 2020 0 comment

Altocedro winery and vineyards by Karim Mussi in Uco Valley

Featured Argentina Featured Wineries Maipú Wineries Uco Valley Wineries

Karim Mussi Wines

by Amanda Barnes November 21, 2019

written by Amanda Barnes

Karim Mussi is one of the best-known winemakers in Mendoza’s Uco Valley, having made his name there with Altocedro winery since 1999. Today he has a family of wine brands and wineries, including the sought after wines of Bodega Alandes, and is also part of Abras in Cafayate, The Phoenician, Qaramy and Los Poetas. For over two decades Karim has been a leading specialist in the La Consulta wine region in the Uco Valley, but also makes wines around Mendoza and Salta.

About Karim Mussi Wines

Karim Mussi is a winemaker and entrepreneur who has steadily built his name as one of the top winemakers of the Uco Valley and today making wines all over Argentina. Having founded his own wineries Altocedro in La Consulta in 1999 and Alandes in 2012, today he also has his own wine project in Salta, Abras, and is a consultant for various other brands and wineries around Argentina.

In particular, Karim has been a longstanding champion of the La Consulta wine region and also of one of its most-planted varieties, Tempranillo. Another of Karim’s calling cards is complex red blends, whether that be blends of regions or varieties, or both.

About Karim Mussi wineries & wines

A family of wines, Karim Mussi Wines encompasses several brands which have been developed over his career and in different partnerships over time:

Altocedro winery & wines

Altocedro is the flagship winery and brand of Karim Mussi, which he started in 1999 in La Consulta in the Uco Valley. Focused on terroir-driven wines, Altocedro is a leader in the wine region and helped put La Consulta on the map internationally for its high quality wines.

There is a classic range, Año Cero, as well as a Reserva range and also some single vineyard wines, called Coleccion Fincas. Tempranillo has always been a key focus variety for Altocedro winery, as well as Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, with some new red blends coming to the fore too and a refreshing Merlot rosé. Some of these wines are made from really old vines in the region, which are over 80 years old.

Bodega Alandes winery & wines

Bodega Alandes reflects Karim’s journey with these Andes mountain regions in Mendoza, and the name refers to ‘wines from along the Andes’. While Altocedro and Abras are specific terroir projects, Alandes winery is a more open concept which enables blends from different terroirs or regions within Mendoza.

At the moment, the portfolio includes Concrete Tank (an unoaked red blend), two Malbecs (one from a blend of Uco Valley regions and one is a blend from the Calchaquí Valleys), two Bordeaux-style blends called Paradoux (a delicious old-vine white Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, and a complex red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot) and a Gran Cabernet Franc (also a blend of regions – La Consulta and Vista Flores).

Viña Qaramy

Viña Qaramy is a new project which has been brought into the Karim Mussi Wines fold and is based in the Uco Valley making a range of varietal wines and blends from the Uco Valley. The portfolio is focused on red wines with a pure fruit expression.

Abras winery & wines in Cafayate

Abras is a boutique project in Cafayate in the Calchaquí Valley in Salta, northern Argentina. With just three wines, Abras has a Torrontés, a Malbec and a Reserva Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Tannat.

These are all high-altitude wines (from 1,700 to over 2,000 m.a.s.l.) and reflect the extreme terroir there with a specific focus on the terroir expression of Cafayate and these emblematic grape varieties for the region.

About the vineyards

Karim Mussi has two estate vineyards, both La Consulta in the Uco Valley. The first is a 5-hectare vineyard with vines that are over 20 years old, and the second, larger vineyard has 7 hectares of vines that are 18 years old.

Karim and his team also work with 15 other vineyards which cover all five sub-appellations of La Consulta (Chacón, El Cepillo, Altamira, Lotes Barranquero and La Cañada). For these vineyards the team is 100% in control of the viticulture, maintaining the vineyard throughout the year. In total, Karim Mussi wines works with 83 hectares of vines in the Uco Valley.

In Salta, Abras winery is working with two vineyards in Cafayate. The first is a 25-year-old vineyard in Yacochuya which is over 2,000 m.a.s.l. in altitude with rocky soils; and the second is a Torrontés vineyard with vines that are over 50 years old and come from sandier soils.

All the vineyards are managed in a sustainable way with natural materials used in the vineyards, efficient and responsable water usage (all drip irrigation), untilled soils, composting of the grape seeds and stems, and use of organic fertilizer and minimal vineyard treatments.

About the winemaker, Karim Mussi

Karim has always had a focal point of three dogmas in winemaking: innovation, terroir understanding and sustainable vineyards.

His philosophy in winemaking is to find the purest fruit expression and seek the authentic expression of each place and plot of vines.

“I always try to make wines with personality which are authentic and show typicity of the place,” says Karim.

“My wines are based on three pillars: elegance, balance and freshness. I’m a huge fan of Bordeaux and its blends but in reality, my role models have always been genuine producers who make great wines that are free of trends or prejudice.”

A lover of world politics, 17th-century British philosophy, 1960s rock (The Doors and Led Zeppelin are favourites) and Ayn Rand.

During the harvest you can find him in Los Tilos in La Consulta indulging in a lomita especial and a Stella beer. “As everyone knows, it takes a lot of beer to make good wine…” says Karim.

Visiting Karim Mussi Wines & Bodega Alandes

Located in a beautiful, historic home in Maipú, you can visit the tasting room of Karim Mussi and Bodega Alandes for an intimate wine tasting which can include all of the Karim Mussi wines. Bespoke and custom-made wine tastings are paired with a tour of the winery where you’ll get to taste some of the wines from the barrel too.

Videos

About Bodega Alandes

A look at Altocedro’s harvest 2017

November 21, 2019 0 comment

Featured Wineries Featured Chile Iconic Chile Cachapoal Wineries

Altaïr

by Pablo Ortiz November 13, 2019

written by Pablo Ortiz

Altaïr wine and winery is the fine wine arm of Viña San Pedro making complex and full-bodied red wines from Cachapoal Andes. Altaïr is the top wine and Sideral is their second-label, but just as complex and ageworthy. You can visit the winery in Cachapoal for a tasting and even stay for lunch.

About Altaïr

Named after one of the brightest stars in the sky, Altaïr is the top wine of Viña San Pedro and a renowned red blend from Cachapoal Andes. Coming from select plots from their 93-hectare vineyard estate, this Cabernet Sauvignon blend includes Cabernet Franc and Syrah, proportions of which change each vintage. With the cool mountain breeze and deep volcanic soils of Cachapoal Andes, the wine reflects its mountain terroir harnessing both concentration and freshness.

Much more approachable in its youth today is the second-label, Sideral, but just as complex and ageworthy.

About the Altaïr vineyards

The Cachapoal Andes winery was founded in 2002 and it is located in the Cachapoal Andes Valley at the foot of the Andes Mountain Range. This winery is focused on making Viña San Pedro’s fine wines: Altaïr, Cabo de Hornos, Sideral, Kankana del Elqui and Tierras Moradas.

The soil from the Cachapoal Andes Valley is quite diverse because of its geological and geomorphological origins giving wines a lot of complexity. The grapes for Altäir are sourced from three select plots in the vineyard, characterized by volcanic soils on a slope, alluvial gravel deposits, and volcanic soils decomposed in clay.

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes are planted on volcanic soils containing fractured yellow basalt, with minerals mixed with sand and clay, as they provide minerality and structure to the wine. The deposits of alluvial gravel range from irregular and medium-sized to fine gravel with sand. These soils give wine structure, elegance, volume and are used for Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Finally, the volcanic soils decomposed in clay are used for Syrah vines as they contribute fresh fruit and structure.

Altaïr wines

ALTAIR

This Cabernet Sauvignon blend includes Cabernet Franc and Syrah, proportions of which change each vintage. The wine is increasingly elegant each vintage under the hand of winemaker Gabriel Mustakis, although it remains one of Chile’s most collectable wines that will cellar well.

SIDERAL

Sideral is a blend of five grape varieties grown in their Cachapoal Andes vineyard. It is their second-label, but just as complex and ageworthy.

CABO DE HORNOS

Cabo de Hornos is a Cabernet Sauvignon that grows in volcanic soils. The grapes are planted at the foothills of the Andes in the Cachapoal Andes Valley and are affected by winds that come down from the mountains, allowing for slow ripening, concentration and character.

About the winemaker, Gabriel Mustakis

Gabriel graduated in Agricultural Engineering with a special mention in winemaking from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He joined Viña San Pedro in 2018 after working as a winemaker both in Chile and abroad.

His passion for wine and his vision for the iconic wines of Viña San Pedro has given him the opportunity of becoming the manager of the Cachapoal Andes winery, where San Pedro’s five icon wines: Altaïr, Cabo de Hornos, Sideral, Kankana del Elqui and Tierras Moradas are made.

Visiting Altaïr

You can taste a vertical of the Altaïr and Sideral wines while visiting the handsome winery and vineyard, with options for lunch, picnics and biking among the vines.

The restaurant is open from Tuesday through Saturday.

Click here to book your visit to Viña San Pedro or email the winery at [email protected]

Tasting Altair and Cabo de Hornos wines from Cachapoal Andes with Gabriel Mustakis

November 13, 2019 0 comment

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