Wine Tasting in Maipo, Chile
Due south of Santiago, the traditional heart of Chilean winemaking has its roots firmly established in the first generation of serious wines, made from plantings brought back from Europe. Here in Chile is the only place on Earth where you can find the original ungrafted vines planted on a large scale. This is because the wine growing regions of Chile are completely protected from the devastating effects of phylloxera. To the north you find the Attacama desert, to the east the gargantuan Andes, from the south is Antartica and to the west the mighty Pacific ocean.
The Maipo is actually divided into the “high” Maipo, closest to the Andes, and the “Isla del Maipo”, an island formed by the Maipo River. This terroir is esteemed among the finest in the world for Cabernet Sauvignon. The berries are tiny, dense, and filled with aromas that are of deep cassis. There’s an herbaceous note that many say come from the eucalyptus trees in the valley and oils “suspended” in the air. The wines are fresh, elegant, balanced with silky tannins.