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Winemaker Gabriel Mustakis talks about the terroir in Cachapoal Andes
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Exploring Cachapoal Andes with winemaker Altair Gabriel Mustakis

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

Cachapoal Andes is the mountainous region of Cachapoal where the prized vineyards of Altaïr and Cabo de Hornos are located. Winemaker Gabriel Mustakis shares his insight into the terroir here, talking us through the climate, soils and growing conditions for his Cabernet Sauvignon and other red Bordeaux grape varieties.

We learn why Cachapoal Andes has helped to develop two of the most iconic wines of Chile within one vineyard, but with very different concepts.

 

Exploring Altair winery & Cachapoal Andes terroir with winemaker Gabriel Mustakis

 

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Calyptra winery, Alto Cachapoal, Calyptra wines
Cachapoal WineriesFamily

Calyptra

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

Located on one of the highest altitude vineyards in Cachapoal, Calyptra winery and its wines are all about the mountain influence. Almost 1,000 metres above sea-level, the Alto Cachapoal vineyard benefits from intense sunlight and cool nights.

This family winery has Emiliano Dominguez Battocchia as winemaker, and a couple highlights in the portfolio include a barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

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Chile FeaturesChileFeaturesVideos

A 360 tour of Chile’s Andes wine region in Cachapoal

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

Winemaker at Calyptra wines, Francois Massoc, invites us on a 360 degree tour of the vineyard high in the Andes mountains in Alto Cachapoal, Chile. Amanda Barnes asks him about the terroir and impact of the location on the wines produced. Don’t forget to click and spin the screen to see the whole 360 picture!

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VIK winery in Chile, Viña Vik, the impressive million dollar winery investment by Norwegian VIK family in San Vincente Cachapoal
Featured WineriesFeatured ChileChileCachapoal WineriesArchitectureHotel Winery

VIK

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

One of the biggest modern investments in Chile, VIK winery in Cachapoal is an impressive project in the middle of Cachapoal where the Norwegian Vik family purchased a 4,450 hectare valley in a bid to make the best wine in the world. After hundreds of soil studies, they planted 327 hectares of vineyards from which they only select the top grapes each year for their top wine, VIK – a rich red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah.

The winery is state-of-the-art and a beautiful architectural masterpiece, that is perhaps only upstaged by the hotel next door: an artistic, luxury, boutique hotel that offers the most exclusive stay in Chile’s wine valleys with a top-notch restaurant.

 

Click here to download a map of Cachapoal and other Chilean wine regions!

Viña VIK winery in Chile in Cachapoal valley

 

About VIK winery

In 2004, Norwegian entrepreneurs Alexander and Carrie Vik decided that they wanted to make a worldclass wine and began searching for the ideal terroir. After two years consulting with winemakers, climatologists, geologists and agronomists around the South America, they purchased a 4,450 hectare estate in Cachapoal.

In 2006, in the Millahue Valley (which means Place of Gold in the native Mapuche language) they started identifying the top plots and planting their vineyard. The following year, the Viks held a competition for Chilean architects to compete to become the designer of the winery and Smijilian Radic was selected and designed the winery in collaboration with Alexander and Carrie Vik.

The winery has a sweeping waterscape at its entrance, with a meditative river rock sculpture, and most of the winery is underground benefiting from the cooler temperatures. Inside, a stretched fabric roof appears as a wing suspended over the underground structure, and allows for natural light to permeate the winery. The design was inspired by the Andean landscape and is both sustainable and technologically creative.

In 2014, the winery construction was completed and the tasting room opened to the public.

 

Vina VIK vineyards in Chile Cachapoal valley

 

About VIK vineyards

VIK’s vineyards are planted across 12 small valleys, totalling 327 hectares under vine. More than 6,000 soil pits and
analyses were conducted to match the clonal selection of rootstock and varieties to the specific plots. Varieties planted include Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah, and soil types include colluvial, alluvial, sand, clay, and gravel stone.

 

Night harvest with Cristian Vallejo

 

 

About VIK wines

VIK wines and Piu Belle, guide to wineries in Chile

The VIK wine portfolio comprises of three red wines and a rosé:

VIK

Flagship wine and the icon of the winery, a rich red blend that can cellar well for over a decade.

LA PIU BELLE and MILLA CALA

The second and third wine of the winery, also Bordeaux-style red blends although more approachable in their youth. La Piu Belle rosé is a new wine, first launched with the 2019 vintage.

 

All three wines are crafted for freshness, fruit, colour, balance, aroma, structure, precision and energy. VIK and Milla Cala are lean, linear with a depth of fruit and a lengthy finish, and La Piu Belle is fresh, bright, plush, and powerful balancing black fruit flavours with dark earthy notes and powdery tannins. Our VIK style is to marry the nuanced characteristics of the old world with vibrant style of the new world.

Cristian Vallejo, winemaker at VIK

About the Winemaker, Cristian Vallejo

Cristian Vallejo winemaker Vina VIK Millahue Chile. Winemaker interview with South America Wine Guide author Amanda Barnes. Guide to wineries and wines of Chile

Cristian Vallejo is the Chief Winemaker at Viña VIK since 2007 and takes charge of winemaking and viticulture. Having spent several years working in Bordeaux, Italy, California and Spain, he brings a wealth of experience to the winery.

His philosophy is to make the wines with hand-harvested grapes and using native yeast, before ageing the wines in new and used French oak barrels. Under Cristian’s guidance, the winery is also introducing its first wines aged in clay amphoras which have been specially designed and custom-made with the clay from the vineyard soils. VIK is also developing wine barrels from oak from their very own estate too.

Watch our full interview with winemaker Cristian Vallejo!

 

Visiting VIK winery & hotel

VIK retreat hotel in Cachapoal, worldclass winery and luxury hotel in Chilean wine country

 

VIK has some of the most outstanding winery architecture not only in Chile but in the world, and its VIK Retreat hotel is equally as memorable with a swooping bronzed titanium roof that looks like a golden crown. The hotel’s design was conceived by the owners Alexander and Carrie Vik with architect Marcelo Daglio. Right at the centre of the Retreat is a transparent living room flanking a raked Zen garden with bonsai trees and brightly-coloured flowers, which leads the way to Milla Milla restaurant on the top floor. On the ground floor is the gym, spa and infinity pool with awe-inspiring views over the valley.

Vina VIK hotel and winery in Cachapoal, Chile

 

HOTEL

Within the hotel there are 22 design-forward suites, each of which has a unique collection of artwork and was designed by an invited artist. Each suite has a different view over the sweeping estate and vineyards surrounding the hotel.

For those who want to appreciate the views of the estate even more, you can stay in one of the seven glass Miesian bungalows at Puro Vik, each of which has a 180-degree panoramic view of the estate. And for those who are looking for some home comfort, you can book a stay at The Cabin, which is a private ‘Scandinavia-meets-South America’ cabin in a private and exclusive corner of the estate.

VIK winery in Chile, guide to wines in Chile

 

RESTAURANTS

There are two restaurants at Viña VIK: Pavilion restaurant in the winery and Milla Milla restaurant in the hotel. Both offer contemporary Chilean cuisine using seasonal produce, including some 250 different varieties of organic fruits, vegetables and herbs that the kitchen team grow in the estate grounds.

When visiting the winery, there are also several options for guests to explore. You can either sit down for a guided tasting, or you can take a more active approach with a horseback ride, bike ride or trek through the vineyards. And gourmands might want to book in for a cooking class with VIK’s celebrated chef, Pablo Cáceres.

 

Artists of each of the suites:

1. Shogun: Takeo Hanazawa (Japan)
2. Redondo: No Artist
3. Valenzuela: Sebastián Valenzuela (Chile)
4. P. Hubertus: Prince Hubertus of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (México)
5. Chile: Carlos Leppe (1952-2015) & Felipe Cusicanqui (Chile)
6. Abelli: Cristián Abelli (Chile); Baño Marcelo Daglio (Uruguay)
7. Louis Louis: Alphonse Marie de Neuville, (Francia) 1835-1885
8. Norge: Kjell Nupen (Norway) 1955-2014 & Axel Revold (Norway) 1887 – 1962
9. H: Hermes Master Suite, artists Alex and Carrie Vik, and Ricardo Yrarrázaval (Chile)
10. VIK: Antonio Seguí (Argentina) & Francisco Uzabeaga (Chile)
11. La Marcela: Marcela Correa (Chile) Paz Lira y Diana Navarrete (Chile)
12. Azulejo: Portuguese tiles. Pablo Montealegre (Chile)
13. Minimalist: José Basso (Chile)
14. Hollywood: Francisco Uzabeaga (Chile)
15. Retro: Mario Toral (Chile)
16. Graffitti: Diego Roa (Chile)
17. La Patricia: Patricia Fernández (Chile)
18. Gabler’s Grisalle: Alvaro Gabler (Chile)
19. F: Art installation by Fornasetti (Chile)
20. Rock’n Rio: Mario Gomez (Chile)
21. Vicky Money: Victoria Aguirre (Uruguay)
22. Cienfuegos: Room by Gonzalo Cienfuegos (Chile); bathroom by Eduardo Cardoso (Uruguay)

Artists featured in the common areas of the hotel include Anselm Kiefer, Germany; Roberto Matta, Chile; Paz Lira, Chile; Totoy Zamudio, Chile; Samy Benmayor, Chile; Patricia Ossa, Chile; Patricia Claro; Alex Vik; Smiljan Radic; Marcela Correa; Marcelo Daglio; and Eduardo Cardoso.

 

Video of VIK winery

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