The Maipo Valley was again our destination for Day 2 but we headed west – away from the Alto Maipo and more towards the central areas in our quest to discover the subtleties and nuances of Chilean terroir.
Our first stop was at De Martino. This is a big estate that successfully combines a large, bulk bottling and sizeable wholesale business with a top class range of premium wines. Maria-Jesus hosted a wonderful walk around the vines highlighting the organic approach they implement and then we headed into the cellar where we discovered a large number of old clay pots which De Martino are using to make some fascinating ‘old style wines’ – more of which later. Marcello the chief winemaker then proceeded to host a quite magnificent, absorbing and engaging presentation on Chilean terroir that was gripping in a way that I never expected.
This was accompanied by a fabulous line up of wines including the Vinas Tinajas – clay pot wines which were fascinatingly different. Virtually no sulphur, minimal intervention and a fingers crossed approach, the wines were fresh yet earthy – definitely a first for all of us on tour.
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Carmenere, Syrah and a beautiful botrytised Semillon completed a stunning tasting. An utterly memorable morning.
Heading west towards coastal Maipo we arrived at the beautifully situated Vina Chocolan. Here we relaxed a bit with a good tasting of the estate wines and then settled down for a wonderful Asado lunch outside. Prime beef, pork ribs, fresh salads – it was a gargantuan feast – all washed down with a mix of Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Another great day with fascinating insights into the amazing diversity that the Maipo Valley has to offer.