Top 100 wines of Coquimbo - Page 5
Discover the top 100 best wines of Coquimbo as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Coquimbo and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of Coquimbo
The Elqui Valley wine region is located 400 kilometers (250mi) North of the Chilean capital, Central-valley/maipo-valley/santiago">Santiago, at the very southern edge of the Atacama Desert. Its latitude of 29° makes it Chile's northernmost wine region, for now at least; the country's determined wine pioneers are now setting their sights as far north as the Atacama. Traditionally the region focused exclusively on producing Chile's trademark brandy, Pisco, but today Elqui Valley vineyards are producing Bright, intensely Aromatic wines, most notably from Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah.
As might be expected in an arid, largely uninhabited region surrounded by desert, the valley is hot and Dry making irrigation essential in all vineyards here.
The Elqui province is famous for its bright sunshine, pure air and Clear skies as well as a number of astronomical observatories. Vineyards here receive far higher levels of solar radiation than any European wine region, and this seems to translate into the wine style. The vibrant intensity of Elqui Valley wines, when yields and potential Alcohol are kept in check, can be quite remarkable.
The secret to successful viticulture this close to the equator is altitude.
Elqui's vineyards sit up to 2,000 meters (6,550ft) above sea level, which means that the Warm, bright, days are followed by cool, fresh nights. This diurnal temperature variation lengthens the grape growing season, of which allows grapes time to develop intense varietal character, while retaining refreshing levels of acidity.
Wineries all over Chile now focus heavily on the altitude of their vineyards. Altitude has become as much a marketing tool as a key element of terroir.
Discover the grape variety: Grenache
Grenache noir is a grape variety that originated in Spain. It produces a variety of grape specially used for the elaboration of wine. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by medium to large bunches, and grapes of medium size. Grenache noir can be found in many vineyards: South West, Cognac, Bordeaux, Provence & Corsica, Languedoc & Roussillon, Rhone Valley, Loire Valley, Savoie & Bugey, Beaujolais.
Food and wine pairing with a wine of Coquimbo
wines from the region of Coquimbo go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of roast pork with prunes, tagliatelle courgette salmon from cécile and lisa or zucchini quiche.
News from the vineyard of Coquimbo
Annual Christie’s sale of DWWA wines fetches more than £53,000 for charity
Taking place on the 1st December at Christie’s London headquarters, the auction was made up of 87 lots which opened the Finest and Rarest Wines & Spirits auction. Bidding took place in the spectacular auction room where a selection of DWWA award winners was also available to taste before and throughout the auction. The DWWA auction attracted buyers from all over the world, across four continents. The rise and rise of Burgundy As noted by Christie’s wine specialist and auctioneer Charlie Fole ...
Hugh Johnson: ‘Veteran wine books are by modern standards short on facts’
When you have an idea that, in your first flush of inspiration, you think deserves to get beyond the breakfast table, you run straight into the modern dilemma. Is it a Tweet? Is it one for Facebook or Instagram? Should you just try it out on your nearest and dearest, or is there a book in it? A slim volume, or does it need several tomes to expound its profundity? My trade being what it is, and royalties being as modest as they are these days, I’ve rather given up on books. Writing new ones, that ...
France forecasts stable 2023 wine harvest
National production from France’s wine harvest in 2023 has been estimated between 44 million and 47 million hectolitres this year, up from 45.4 million hectolitres in 2022. That would be in line with, or exceed, the five-year average. France appears to be doing better than Italy and Spain, which expect below-average volumes. Still, the French agriculture ministry emphasised the preliminary nature of its forecast, citing uncertainty around damage from downy mildew in Bordeaux and southwest ...