Behind the Cork™ - Chile's Coastal Chardonnays

As we’ve learned, Chile’s coastal wine country is heavily influenced by the Humboldt Current. Here are three excellent examples of the Chardonnay being produced along Chile’s coast.

2023 Miguel Torres Cordillera de los Andes Chardonnay ($20)

Miguel Torres, driven by a quest for exceptional wine production, discovered that the Limarí Valley is where Chardonnay takes on a unique and distinctive character. This Chardonnay is crafted from 100% Chardonnay grapes, which undergo fermentation in French oak barrels before being aged in French oak barrels for seven months. The wine exhibits a pale straw color and enticing floral notes on the nose. On the palate, it reveals creamy citrus flavors accompanied by a refreshing acidity, culminating in a soft and smooth finish. (ABV: 13.5%, Total Acidity: 6.45 g/L, pH: 3.25, Residual Sugar: 3.7 g/L)

2021 Floresta Chardonnay ($20)

Floresta Chardonnay is also from the Limarí Valley where the soils consist of alluvial deposits with a first stratum of clay texture and a second of clay-loam with stones. Calcium carbonate deposits are found between the strata. Fermentation took place in Stainless Steel tanks and then the wine was transferred to barrels where it was aged on lees (surlie aged) with periodic battonage for 3-5 months. Approximately 30% of the wine undergoes malolactic conversion. The wine is kept on lees for 10 months, for a total of 12 months in French oak prior to bottling. It is pale gold in color with notable minerality on the nose. On the palate it has notes of green apple, pineapple, bright acidity and finishes with just a touch of tartness. (ABV: 13.1%, TA: 6.65 g/L, pH: 3.04, RS: 2.19 g/L)

2020 Montes Alpha Chardonnay ($24)

The vineyards that produce Montes Alpha Chardonnay are situated in the Aconcagua Costa region. The proximity of the vines to the Pacific Ocean and the significant impact of the ocean breezes create ideal grape-growing conditions. Montes Alpha is a blend of two Chardonnay clones from three distinct regions. Approximately 35% of the wine underwent fermentation in barrels with varying degrees of toasting, while 25% underwent malolactic conversion. A total of 35% of the wine was barrel-aged for 12 months in French oak of the first, second, and third use.

This Chardonnay exhibits a medium gold color with minerality on the nose. On the palate, it presents flavors of green apple and lime, with moderate acidity and a bright finish. (ABV: 14%, TA: 3.53 g/L, pH: 3.21, RS: 2.7 g/L) 

This week, we’re shining a spotlight on three fantastic Chardonnays from Chile’s coastal regions. These wines are not only delicious but also incredibly affordable, making them a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. So, grab a glass and let’s toast to these amazing Chilian wines! Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Miquel Torres, Viña Santa Rita, Montes and Master the World

The Coastal Terroirs of Chile's Wine Country

The Topography of Chile’s Coast (Image from the Wines of Chile)

As we discovered last time, the Humboldt Current generates a river of cold water that profoundly impacts the Chile’s coastal climate. This cold water current cools the air over the sea, leading to a classic thermal inversion during the summer months. This inversion causes the condensed humidity from the day to form a thick fog that blankets the sea and coast. This fog is reminiscent of the mist famously seen in California’s Sonoma Coast and the Santa Lucía Highlands, but on a larger scale. This fog also filters sunlight, which affects grape varieties with short ripening cycles, such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir. Consequently, these varieties develop slowly and delicately under the foggy conditions.

In addition, this effect of the Humboldt Current defines the daytime temperatures along the coast. Temperatures remain low along the ocean and the coast before rising sharply further inland to match the topography of the inner valleys. By thirty-five miles inland, the effects have completely disappeared.

The topography also plays an important role. In central Chile an ancient mountain range known as the Cordillera de la Costa (the Coastal Range) runs parallel to the ocean along a 2,000- mile stretch. This range acts as a barrier to the influence of the Humboldt Current. On the western slopes, the effects of the Humboldt Curren can be felt, while the eastern side is affected less the further it is from the sea.

The combination of granite soils and a consistent climate make for a terroir of a kind not found anywhere else in the world, where vineyards are planted along a 600-mile long stretch. Within this 20- to 30-mile wide strip, where the granite is combined with clay or sandy loam depending on the area, temperatures and sunlight are quite consistent. Without the Humboldt Current, the climate would vary widely by latitude and topography. 

The main coastal terroirs of Chile are, running from south to north: Itata, Colchagua Costa, Leyda & San Antonio, Casablanca, Limarí and Huasco.

Next time well take a look at the Humboldt Current’s imprint on the wines of Chile. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc

2019 St. Supéry Sauvignon Blanc ($24.99)

St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery  produces 100% estate grown, certified Napa Green wines, focusing on sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, and additional red Bordeaux varietals.

Napa Green is an environmental certification program for vineyards and wineries. This program is one of the most comprehensive environmental accreditations in the wine industry, covering every step from soil to bottle and requiring continuous improvement to maintain their certifications. All of of their land is certified Napa Green.

This St. Supéry Sauvignon Blanc is produce from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes that are estate grown in their Dollarhide Vineyard. The grapes were pressed to tank and immediately chilled and settled prior to fermentation. All fermentation was completed in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures to maintain and enhance the natural flavors. The final blend was completed soon thereafter.

This Sauvignon Blanc is pale gold in color with hints of green. It has nice aromas of tropical fruit, grapefruit and lime. On the palate, this wine has delicate tropical fruit flavors, moderate acidity and finishes soft and balanced with a hint of honey. (ABV: 13.5%, Total Acidity: 6.8 g/L, pH: 3.29, Residual Sugar: 0.2 g/L)

This is indeed a ‘super’ Sauvignon Blanc from St. Supéry winery. It’s widely available and nicely priced for a quality wine from Napa. That makes it a perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

The Humboldt Current and Chile’s Coastal Wines

The Humboldt Current (Image from The Wines of Chile)

Behind some of the most distinctive wines of Chile lies an ocean current that has a major effect on vineyards in this area, not to mention weather patterns across the globe.

How is it possible that a tropical latitude can produce cold-climate wines of the kind found on the coast of Chile? Why do Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive all along the 600-mile wine-producing terroir of the Chilean coast? 

The underlying cause of these conditions is to be found out in the cold waters of the Pacific, where a powerful oceanic current runs from south to north — The Humbolt Current.

Of all the great oceanic currents, the Humboldt stands out:

• It generates one of the richest maritime ecosystems in the world

• It is so large and cold that it affects the coasts of South America from the 50th to the 4th parallels

• Whenever it shifts course, weather patterns around the globe change completely

The Humboldt Current flows up to the continent and rises to the surface at a latitude of between 50 and 40 degrees south. The volume of water is such that even six hundred miles out to sea it has a major effect on inland weather.

Due to its scale and length, the Humboldt Current changes the weather around it, creating a cold buffer in nearby air masses and lowering temperatures as it goes.

The contrast couldn’t be starker: where on land the earth is barren, the air dry and there is a total lack of plants other than in river valleys, out to sea the cold, nutrient rich water results in an explosion in marine life. The Humboldt Current sustains the richest marine ecosystem in the world on the coasts of Chile, Peru and Ecuador. Nothing escapes Humboldt’s icy breath, which is why it is so important to the coastal wines of Chile.

Next time we’ll take a look at the Coastal terroirs of Chile.

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Materials provided by The Wines of Chile

Behind the Cork™ - Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc

2020 Ferrari Carano Fumé Blanc ($13.99)

One of the first two wines Ferrari-Carano ever made 40 years ago, this Fumé Blanc is from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in Sonoma County — Dry Creek, Alexander and Russian River Valleys.

When the grapes for this wine arrived at the winery, each lot was gently crushed and pressed into stainless steel tanks for 48 hours of cold settling. The juice was either transferred to stainless steel tanks (73%) or older French oak barrels (27%) for fermentation. The wine in barrels were sur lie aged and stirred every other week for two months, then blended and bottled.

This wine is a medium-gold color with pleasant aromas of tropical fruit. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied dry wine with medium-high acidity, flavors of pear, pineapple and grapefruit, and finishes balanced and bright. (ABV: 13.8%, Acidity: 5.6 g/L, pH:3.27)

This Ferrari Carano Fumé Blanc is a tasty refresher that is priced nicely and is widely available. A great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week! Cheers!