Santa Rita Estates spotlights terroir and regional diversity at their inaugural South American Wine Workshops in the United Kingdom

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26-01-12 —

The workshops, which attracted the leading UK Wine Press, Masters of Wine and key wine trade influencers, focused on the premium wines category from South America and promoted the attributes of diversity and regionality that are characteristic of the Chilean and Argentinean terroir. These workshops were the first in a number of educational initiatives planned by Santa Rita Estates to highlight terroir, show the potential and the price/quality advan- tages of South American premium wines in the interna- tional market.

United Kingdom, January 2012. Santa Rita Estates, which includes Santa Rita, Carmen, Terra Andina and Nativa winer- ies from Chile and Doña Paula from Argentina, presented the “South American Wine Workshop” in the United King- dom, a key destination market for South American wines.

Through the medium of presentations and tastings, the educational event focused on South America’s premium category of wines and promoted the attributes of diversity and regionality in the New World, in which Chile and Argen- tina play a leading role.

Masters of Wine Richard Bampfield, Tim Atkin and Peter Richards, as well as the internationally renowned and inno- vative Australian winemaker Brian Croser – consultant for Santa Rita Estates — moderated the workshops and spoke on the importance of designated origin and regionality and how they are reflected in the style of each wine.

During the tastings, discussion evolved around the great potential of the premium wines from these defined areas and their ability to compete in quality and price on an equal footing with other premium wine producing countries in the international market. Each workshop also discussed the importance of sustainability in the entire winemaking chain, an area in which Santa Rita Estates has obtained important achievements, including its recent “Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile” status.

The presentations and discussions were accompanied by varietal tastings that enabled the attendees to experience the unique typicity of white wines from Elqui, Limarí, Casa- blanca, Leyda, Lo Abarca, Traiguén, and Mendoza, as well as Carmenere wines from Los Lingues, Marchigüe, Apalta, Peumo in Chile and Malbec’s from Salta, Río Negro, Uco, Urgatache, and Gualtallary in Argentina.

Speaking specifically about Cabernet Sauvignon, Brian Croser said that the variety “must be a cornerstone for the future of Chilean wine,” adding that “Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is completely unique and can’t be replicated. The unmistakable Cabernet nature is a real advantage for Chile, and strength on which to build.”

With respect to Carmenere, the group concluded that it is a variety that has shown a remarkable evolution in recent years. “…‘let’s not forget that its rediscovery was relatively recent, so in this context the progress made to date has been very impressive; I believe it is a first-division variety, capable of expressing terroir, stylistic diversity and excellent quality, both on its own and in blends’ said Richards. Atkins added that “Carmenere can now claim to have gained promotion to the so – called “premiership” of first class wine varieties.”

The seminar concluded with a vertical tasting of Santa Rita Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon from Alto Maipo, which has been made as a “single vineyard” wine since its first vintage 1989. The renowned winemaker Cecilia Torres, who has been responsible for the wine since it began, presented eight vintages covering the years 1989 to 2010.

Peter Richards & Elena Carretero