Bodegas Vista Alegre is one of the most historical wineries in Peru, founded in 1857 by two Italian brothers. Today the Vista Alegre winery is run by the fourth generation of the Picasso family and has over 180 hectares of vineyards which they use for both pisco and wine production. Favourites include the Tempranillo and Malbec.
One of the oldest wineries in South America, Tacama winery has been producing wine since the 1540s. Located in the heart of Ica, Tacama gives a great insight into how Peruvian wine production has changed. From the rows of abandoned botijas (old amphorae used in wine production) in front of the winery and the ancient wooden wine presses, to the modern steel tanks and barriques inside the cellar. Try the Petit Verdot and stay for lunch and a rodeo show.
Louis Antoine Luyt is one of Chile’s leading ‘natural wine’ producers. The Louis Antoine Luyt winery is in Chillan, Maule, where he makes brands including Clos Ouvert, Pais et Huasa, the eponymous brand Louis Antoine Luyt and a brand simply labelled ‘Pipeño‘.
One of the modern pioneers in revaluing old vine País, Louis Antoine Luyt makes several País wines from around Maule as well as other old vine varieties Cinsault, Carignan and Muscat.
The terroir-driven wines of Clos de Fous may be named ‘Clos of Fools’ but this is actually a very smart set up focusing on making distinctive wines on some of Chile’s most interesting vineyard soils. The Clos des Fous winery is in Maule but the wines are made from grapes sourced in several different terroirs including Malleco, Itata, Bio Bio, Aconcagua Costa and Cachapoal. Soil specialist Pedro Parra and Burgundy-trained winemaker François Massoc are behind the location hunting for Clos des Fous, along with other founders Albert Cussen and Paco Leyton, and winemaker Felipe Cartes.
Clos des Fous started in 2009 by partners Francois Massoc, Pedro Parra, Albert Cussen and Paco Leyton. The four of them wanted to show the world the great diversity of soils and climate that exists in Chile and try to change the idea that Chilean wine was industrial and standardized.
They decided to go against what was customary (i.e. making wine in warm and sunny regions) and looked for cooler and rainy places in the south of Chile, on the Andes Mountains, and at higher altitudes. Today they practice dry-farming and make wine from some of the oldest vines in Chile as well as pioneering new regions.
They got the name “Fous” because they were called “crazy” and were told that grapes would not ripen on such extreme terroir.
Clos des Fous