This is the second of three Behind the Cork™ features highlighting Chilean wines that collectively underline Chile’s historic commitment to sustainable wine growing. Their focus on sustainability includes environmental, social, and economic.
Chile’s elevated sense of agricultural “health-consciousness” can largely be attributed to one man: Claude Gay. In 1830, this French-born botanist, after carrying out some of the first investigations into Chilean flora, fauna, geology and geography, successfully advocated for the creation of a government agency to improve agriculture and protect the country from the perils of imported plant diseases. Chile famously remains one of the few places on the planet where phylloxera has yet to make serious inroads and Vitis vinifera vines continue to thrive on their own un-grafted rootstock.
Here are two more excellent examples of high-quality, affordable wines coming from Chile.
2018 Viñedos Emiliana Coyam ($35)
A pioneer in Chile, Emiliana is one of the world’s largest producers of organic and biodynamic wines in the world. Coyam comes from a vineyard on granite-based soils in Colchaga’s coastal mountain range. All the fruit is own-rooted and is a massal (field) selection of different varieties, except for the Syrah, which is a specific clone. Eight different varieties are included in this tasty blend (42% Syrah, 39% Carmenere, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Garnacha, 3% Malbec, 3% Carignan, 1% Tempranillo and 1% Mouvedre). This medium-bodied wine has nice black and red fruit flavors, medium tannin and an easy finish. It’s made with organically grown grapes and is Vegan.
Sustainability Pillar: Installation and support for organic gardens in local schools in 50% of the communications Emiliana operates in (goal: 100%). Also has 91 organic vegetable gardens for is employees, with many participating in collective growing to provide healthy food for their families.
2019 Viña Koyle Gran Reserva Carmenere ($17)
Viña Koyle’s (KOO-lay) biodynamic vineyards are planted on the rocky slopes of Los Lingues in Alto Colchagua and are currently tended by the sixth generation of a family that has been making wine since 1885. Thanks to the deep roots of the vines, this Carmenere-based wine (85%) also includes Tempranillo (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%).
This wine has nice red fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry, medium tannin and nice finish.
It’s biodynamic, Non-GMO, Organic Agriculture and Vegan.
Sustainability Pillar: Demeter-certified, biodynamic producer Koyle also has installed solar panels which harvest 40% of the energy used.
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Samples Provided by Creative Palate Communications