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viviana navarrete winemaker at vina leyda valley in Chile

Pioneering Leyda: Interview with Viviana Navarrete

by Amanda Barnes July 13, 2020

Viviana Navarrete is the head winemaker at Viña Leyda which was the pioneering winery of Leyda valley in San Antonio, first planting vines there at the end of the 1990s. Amanda Barnes interviews Viviana to learn more about Leyda terroir and what makes its wines stand out.

Interview with winemaker Vivana Navarrete of Viña Leyda

Video interview:

Viña Leyda was a true pioneer in the region of Leyda, San Antonio. Can you tell us about the development of the region and how you came to plant there and establish a vineyard?

Viña Leyda was a pioneer in planting its vineyards in the area in 1998, when the Leyda valley was not yet a Denomination of Origin, and we were the creator of this appellation, which is why we have the same name as the valley.

Leyda is a very dry region, with very little natural rain (only 250 mm a year), so in order to start developing it as a vine-growing area Viña Leyda – along with other private and government investors – had to invest in the construction of an 8 kilometre-long pipe to irrigate its vineyards with water from the Maipo River. This was undoubtedly the biggest challenge of the project, as well as starting in an entirely new extreme viticultural region where no one had any previous experience.

During 2001, we made our first commercial production, which we sold under our “Leyda” trademark, which was within the San Antonio appellation. However, the combination of the maritime influence, climate and soil differences meant that we were producing very different wines to the others that came from the rest of San Antonio valley, which is why requested for a separate appellation recognition for Valle de Leyda DO – which we managed to achieve in May 2002.

Since then the valley began to take shape and currently has 2,000 hectares in total, which means it is still a small and exclusive valley, within which Viña Leyda has 163 hectares of vines.

Leyda valley is characterized by its gentle slopes, small lots, and different exposures, all located just 12 km from the Pacific Ocean. In fact, some vineyards are just three or four kilometres from the sea, which are some of the most extreme and coastal vineyards in Chile.

As Viña Leyda we have two vineyards currently. One of them, “El Maitén”, was planted in 2008 and is located 12 km from the sea. This vineyard has 88 hectares in total, which are divided into 49 hectares of Pinot Noir, 20 of Sauvignon Blanc, 10 of Syrah and nine of Chardonnay.

Our second vineyard, “El Granito”, was planted in 2010 and is located four kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. We have 75 hectares in total there, divided into 17 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc, 38 of Pinot Noir, 10 of Chardonnay, five of Sauvignon Gris and five of Riesling.

How do you think the terroir of Leyda valley expresses itself in the wines?

Leyda valley is one of the most extreme terroirs in Chile, and it definitely had a very important role in Chilean viticulture by consolidating the production of high-end white wines and Pinot Noir wines of great character. It is a terroir of stress really, with vineyards just three or four kilometres from the sea, which makes it one of the most coastal vineyards in Chile. Because it is on the western face of the coastal mountain range, it has soils of granitic origin (batolito costero) which are some of the oldest soils in Chile dating back 120 million years. One of the characteristics of this granitic soil is that it gives you very fresh wines with vibrancy. This granite can also be associated with iron, which further enhances the sensation of freshness on the palate.

The climate is a cold Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and a generally cold average temperature throughout the year, at 13° C, which is quite low for the Chilean valleys. The main climatic influence is because of the vineyards’ proximity to the sea. The Pacific Ocean is very cold, due to the influence of the Humboldt current which runs north but at the same time enters the mainland continent, generating low temperatures, strong icy winds and cloudy mornings throughout the year including February and March. This allows for very slow berry maturation which gives abundant and intense aromas, and a very high natural acidity in the wines.

Leyda valley produces very intense wines, with a slightly salty character, generally herbaceous and mineral notes and a very fresh finish with crisp acidity.

What grape varieties do you think are the star varieties for Leyda? And where do you see future potential?

We are committed to making the best wines for this cold coastal climate in Chile, reflecting the full potential of Leyda valley. Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc are the ‘stars of the area’, as they stand out for their great character and sense of identity, reflecting the terroir where they come from. They are cool-climate, mineral wines with a strong maritime influence.

These two varieties in particular benefit greatly with the slow berry maturation you get in this cool climate, because it allows them to produce wines with great aromatic intensity. Typically the Leyda Sauvignon Blanc wines are herbaceous (with notes of freshly-cut grass, lemon verbena and herbs) and then citrus ( with grapefruit and mandarin aromas). I like some austerity in its aromas, that is, when it is not very explosive on the nose, but more subtle and elegant. And in the mouth, the key to Leyda Sauvignon Blanc is the pungent and crisp acidity, with a persistent and creamy finish. Because of the low pH and high natural acidity, you can cellar Leyda Sauvignon Blanc for many years.

Leyda Pinot Noir benefits not only from the ideal climate but also the soil, which can really enhance its attributes. In our vineyards we have been doing many soil studies, and separating the plots with granite soils from those with calcium carbonate soils and granitoids for our different Pinot Noir wines. Typically Leyda Pinot Noir wines are herbaceous, very fruit with mainly acidic red fruit like cherry and raspberry, and persistent in the mouth with a juicy, vibrant and firm texture.

We also produce Chardonnay, Syrah and non-traditional varieties including Riesling and Sauvignon Gris, all of which work really well in the cool climate.

Do you think there is potential for more development in Leyda valley?

Of course. I have been working at Viña Leyda for 13 years and I think this valley has tremendous potential. Leyda valley helped build Chile’s image as a producer of high-end white wines, Pinot Noir and Syrah, and there is much more to contribute as of yet! You have to think that the oldest vineyards in the area are just 20 years old and most are only 10 years old, so the vineyards are still very young.

We are also just beginning to get results from a lot of testing, investigation and research, because most results in viticultural studies take years to see. And I think that most of the producers in this area are on a nice and interesting path. Leyda valley still has a lot to contribute to the industry in the future.

Read more about Viña Leyda winery and their wines in our online winery guide

July 13, 2020 0 comment

Chile Features Chile Wine Guide Wine

Chile Vintage 2020 Report: A 2020 harvest no-one will forget

by Amanda Barnes April 13, 2020

written by Amanda Barnes

The Chile Vintage 2020 will be a harvest no-one will ever forget, not only due to an extremely early and hot season that was made especially challenging because of the ongoing drought, but also because it was impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic that broke out towards the end of harvest.

“This vintage is definitely one we will all remember,” says Emily Faulconer of Viña Carmen, who makes wine with grapes from all over Chile. “To start, it was marked by the very serious drought and a warmer winter than usual, which meant much earlier flowering in most vineyards. A hot year like this can be very challenging in terms of organisation, as the window for harvest is much smaller and more complex and you are harvesting red and white varieties at the same time. But in this case, it was a blessing in disguise – although we didn’t know at the time that we were about to face the Coronavirus pandemic – because it meant that most of our harvest was done by the time quarantine started.”

Harvest dates were brought forward by between a week and month in some valleys, meaning that most producers had brought in the vast majority of their grapes by late March when curfew and quarantine restrictions came in.

The earlier harvest was also aided by the decreased yields; there was a widespread reduction of between 20% and 30% caused by a combination of drought conditions, hot temperatures and significant losses from a bout of ferocious frost events in September, October and November — with several nights dropping below 0˚C each month in many regions of the Central Valley.

April 13, 2020 0 comment

Frost damage and sprinkler protection in Chile, Casablanca wine region

Chile Features Chile Wine Guide Wine

Chile’s Central Valley bitten by spring frost

by Amanda Barnes October 9, 2019

written by Amanda Barnes

Last week temperatures in Chile dropped to below zero degrees celsius for three days in a row, causing significant frost damage from some producers across the Central Valley, notably in Colchagua, as well as in the coastal regions of San Antonio and Casablanca.

Although it is too early to assess the full damage, some producers are reporting losses of up to 100% in their vineyards. While there is always hope for the second budbreak to renew a vineyard following frost, producers are concerned as the weather forecast for the coming weeks predicts further frost.

Frost in Colchagua

Although no official figures have been released, the most widespread damage is in the lower-lying wine regions of Colchagua and lower sectors of vineyards in Palmilla, Marchigue, Lolol, Apalta and Peralillo among others. Temperatures hit their lowest on Wednesday 2nd October, dropping to 2.5 degrees Celcius below zero.

“It was in the lower-level areas, where the frost basins formed, that the vineyards were worst affected,” Wildmakers winemaker José Miguel Soto, who also consults for growers around Colchagua, told South America Wine Guide. “Malbec, Syrah and Merlot were some of the varieties most affected in Colchagua, but it wasn’t only grapes – Colchagua is a big fruit-producing area and many fruit producers were affected.”

The dry and mild winter also meant that budbreak had already happened in most parts of Colchagua, making vineyards more susceptible to frost damage. “We had some degree of damage in 31 hectares of our vineyards from last week’s frost,” says Colchagua-based Casa Silva Head Viticulturist René Vásquez. “On our 25-hectare estate near Angostura, we were worst affected, because budbreak was over a week to 10 days before the frost and we lost 100% of our shoots there. It was a really severe frost.”

Frost in Casablanca & San Antonio

Frost damage is also being reported in the coastal regions of Casablanca and San Antonio, where the areas with the most marginal climate have been worst affected. “Every year we have frosts, to be honest, but we lost buds three weeks ago to a frost, and now we’ve just lost the second buds to this frost last week, which lasted three days,” said Felipe Marin of Casa Marin, whose family estate is located just 4 km from the sea in Lo Abarca.

“All of our vineyards that are at less than 100 metres above sea level were burnt by the frost; about 65% of our vineyards. Considering our yields are extremely low anyway, we only get 4,000 to 5,000 kg a hectare, you can imagine what impact this will have on our production! But it is still too early to come to conclusions because there are more frosts predicted until the beginning of November.”

Fighting frost without fire or water

One of the biggest challenges is that producers are left with few tools to combat frost, as both fire and water are increasingly prohibited in Chile. “We used to use estufas (small fuel-burners) for frost protection, but they are very contaminant to the environment and as we are a sustainable vineyard we have stopped this practice,” Felipe Marin told South America Wine Guide.

“We had also invested in a water system for frost control, but it uses a lot of water! And as we have had many days of frost, it also adds problems of over-irrigation and the water consumption is just too high – it’s a big waste of water. Chile is in its tenth year of drought, and we can’t waste water. It would be suicide to keep using the water systems because you are left without water to irrigate in the summer.”

Unfortunately, it seems like a case of damned if you do, and damned if you don’t for many producers at the moment.

“All we can do is wait,” René Vasquez says. “There’s a month left of frost risk, but also a month in which we will be hoping for our second buds. We just have to wait and see.”

Ultimately it is a game of patience and nerves of steel.

Photo album from Tapihue in Casablanca (with frost protection)

October 9, 2019 0 comment

Chile Features San Antonio Casablanca and Valpo Chile Wine Guide Wine Travel & Culture

Best wineries to visit in Casablanca and San Antonio

by Amanda Barnes January 15, 2019

written by Amanda Barnes

The wine regions of Casablanca and San Antonio have boomed in the last 20 years – from a farming land to Chile’s top coastal wine regions. Conveniently on the road between Santiago and Valparaíso, you can visit Casablanca and San Antonio on a day trip from either city or stay overnight in the wine region to explore it even further. There are some excellent wineries to visit in Casablanca and San Antonio, each with their own unique tourism offering.

You can cover both San Antonio and Casablanca within the same day or trip – just make sure to check distances on google maps first. If you are driving, remember Chile has a strict zero tolerance on drink driving.

Wineries to visit in Casablanca and San Antonio

Bodegas RE

Pablo Morande was the pioneer of Casablanca, first planting vines in the region in the early 80s. Bodegas RE is the new family winery under the helm of his son, Pablo Morande Junior. Open daily and serving brunch and lunch, Bodegas RE is one of the most radical wineries in Casablanca making wines aged in amphora, unorthodox blends and unfiltered sparkling wine. A ‘must’ of Casablanca.

Matetic

Technically the winery is in San Antonio, although Matetic’s vineyards extend into Casablanca too. Matetic is one of the top wineries in the region not only for their excellent biodynamic wine production but also for the gorgeous winery hotel and delicious restaurant on site. Stay overnight to truly relish being in Chilean wine country.

Casa Marín

Maria Luz Marín is a woman of conviction. She planted in Lo Abarca, just 4kms from the coast, even though people called her crazy. Her bet paid off. And today Casa Marín makes some of Chile’s most distinctive coastal wines – intensely aromatic with racy acidity. You can try the wines at their beautiful tasting room in the vineyards and make sure to visit the village too to see the colourful murals made by Maria Luz’s sister. One of the top wineries to visit in San Antonio.

Kingston

Kingston is a beautiful property in Casablanca where they are really serious not only about their white wines, but also Pinot Noir and Syrah. Enjoy their single vineyard wines with a tasting on the terrace or stay for a picnic among the vines to linger a little longer.

Loma Larga

Another of the wineries in Casablanca that specialises more so on red wines than white is Loma Larga, where Cabernet Franc is their top pour. As well as tasting the eclectic wine portfolio, Loma Larga offers a personalised tour walking through the vineyards with their sommelier. You can also horseback ride through the vineyards if you are feeling a bit more adventurous!

Villard

You can sit down with father and son for lunch at this Casablanca winery. Get down to the essence of Villard’s coastal wines by imbibing over lunch with Thierry and Charlie in a personal experience and tasting.