Falernia winery under the hand of two Italian cousins from the Trentino region, businessman Aldo Olivier and winemaker Giorgio Flessati, is responsible for starting the fine wine revolution in Elqui Valley. Aldo invested in the northern valley in Chile in 1998 spotting a unique potential for wine, when everyone else was still just growing avocados, fruit and grapes for pisco production. Viña Falernia has been one of the landmark, and is still the biggest, winery in the valley. The winery is open for visits (including their observatory) and tasting highlights in the portfolio include opulent Sauvignon Blanc and tropical Pedro Ximenez, and meaty Syrah, which work best in the semi-arid climate of Elqui.
About Viña Falernia
Aldo Olivier Gramola was 12 years old when he and his family left behind the economic hardships of post-war Italy and came to the Elqui Valley in Chile in 1951. When he grew up, he began growing grapes for producing Pisco. Some years later, after talking with his Italian winemaker cousin Giorgio Flessati, he realised that the Elqui Valley had the potential to produce quality wines. And so Viña Falernia was born in 1998, pioneering a whole new wine region for Chile.
Viña Falernia now has a total of 320 hectares of vineyards spread across the valley, each with its own climate characteristics.
About the vineyards of Viña Falernia
Viña Falernia has 320 hectares of vineyards in the Elqui valley, each with distinguishing characteristics:
Titón Vineyard
The largest vineyard of Viña Falernia is located 18 km from the Pacific Ocean and so has a maritime influence with morning fogs and cool breezes slowing down the ripening process. This vineyard is planted with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Pedro Ximenez and Torontel.
Puclaro Vineyard
This vineyard at 510 metres above sea level is in a warmer, drier area than Titón and is close to the Puclaro Reservoir, which was built 4 years ago to help irrigate the valley.Here the winery grows Syrah, Sangiovese, Pedro Ximenez, Torontel and Viognier.
Pedregal Vineyard
This is, in fact, a group of different vineyards dotted around the town of Vicuña planted on the old bed of the Elqui River. The soil here is very stony soil and ideal for growing Syrah, Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon. This vineyard is in transition to become organically certified by IMO Switzerland.
Huanta vineyard
This vineyard is located in a rocky valley at an altitude between 1700 to 2070 m (5185-6320 ft.), making it one of the highest vineyards in the world. The climate is very dry with a significant difference in temperatures between day and night. Pedro Ximenez, Syrah, and Pinot Noir are the grapes planted here.
About Falernia Wines
RESERVA
Falernia’s biggest range includes three whites (Pedro Ximenez, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay), as well as varietal reds from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot and Syrah and two red blends.
GRAN RESERVA
The Gran Reserva range comprises just reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec and a Carmenère-Syrah blend, which includes some partially raisined Carmenère grapes.
ANTAKARI
This label includes a number of red varietal Reserva and Gran Reserva wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Merlot, as well as a Late Harvest from Moscatel Rosado and Sémillon grapes.
DONNA MARIA
The Donna Maria range consists of two 100% monovarietal wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Syrah, both of which have had 6 months’ oak-ageing.
NUMBER ONE
This is a big red blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon – 25% Syrah – 25% Carménère, each separately vinified and oak-aged.
SINGLE VINEYARD
There are two wines in this range – Syrah Titon and Carmenère Pedrescal, each carefully produced with 100% grapes of the named variety from the named vineyard.
About the Winemaker, Giorgio Flessati
Giorgio Flessati is the winemaker at Viña Falernia winery and has been since the very beginning in 1998. Coming from the Trento region in northern Italy, Flessati has international winemaking experience but decided to settle in Chile after spotting the potential of the Elqui valley on a visit there in the late 90s.
Visiting Viña Falernia Winery
Tours and tastings are available at Viña Falernia winery, which is a popular visit especially at the weekend. A short drive from La Serena, the winery is a popular destination for tasting en route into the Elqui valley wine region and they also have a wine shop open to purchase wines to take home (or to the beach!)
The wine shop is open: Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 11am until 7pm.
Wine tours are available: Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays at 11.30am, 2pm and 4pm. Tours are available in English and Spanish.
If you would like to tour the winery or taste the wines, you can reserve in advance by calling +56 512412260 or sending an email to [email protected]
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