Top 100 wines of South - Page 4
Discover the top 100 best wines of South as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of South and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of South
Malleco Valley is a Southern wine-growing region in Chile, some 540 kilometers (340 miles) south of the capital, Central-valley/maipo-valley/santiago">Santiago, in the Malleco province. The region is particularly challenging to Grape growers because of its marginal Climate, high rainfall and Short growing season, but the crisp, fresh wines produced here from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. are beginning to attract international attention.
The wine industry in Malleco Valley is still in its embryonic stages, and there is less than 40 hectares (100 acres) under Vine here.
Most vineyards lie around the town of Traiguén, just south of the Bío Bío Valley; a large portion of these belong to the Viña Aquitania wine estate of Maipo Valley.
The cold climate here approaches the extreme of what is suitable for winemaking, and the relatively short growing season limits what varieties growers are able to Plant in Malleco Valley. The high rainfall – 1300 millimeters (51 inches) a year – is a far cry from the semi-arid Cabernet Sauvignon heartlands in the North of Chile such as Aconcagua or the warmer, drier parts of the Central Valley region, and growers must plan accordingly.
On the positive side vineyards enjoy more hours of sunlight than in more northerly regions, and the nights are considerably cooler than the days.
This diurnal temperature variation slows the ripening period of the grapes, and as a result the wines of Malleco Valley have a fresh, racy Acidity that complements their Varietal character.
Malleco Valley's red clay and sandy soils are volcanic in origin and are reasonably well drained – essential, given the area's high levels of rainfall. The lack of water held in the ground means that the vines have to work harder for hydration, and as a consequence will develop less energy-sapping foliage and lower yields of grapes. The wines produced from these grapes have more-concentrated flavors and excellent structure.
Discover the grape variety: Carignan
Mainly cultivated in the Languedoc region, carignan originates from Spain. Because of its very resistant branches, it is often called hardwood. Its bunches are quite large. They are compact and winged with a lignified stalk. The berries are spherical in shape and take on a bluish-black colour. Carignan has a total of 25 approved clones, the best known of which are 274, 65 and 9. The carignan buds at the beginning of June and is protected from spring frosts. It does not reach maturity until the third period. Also, this grape variety needs warmth and sunshine. It appreciates dry and not very fertile soils. Carignan vines can live for more than 100 years. Those that are more than 30 years old produce a better wine. This wine is well coloured. It is generous and powerful at the same time. Pepper, cherry, blackberry, banana, raspberry, almond, prune and violet are some of the aromas that this grape variety gives off.
Food and wine pairing with a wine of South
wines from the region of South go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, veal or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of salmon with cream sauce, blanquette of veal or duck breast with spices, roasted figs with honey and port.
Organoleptic analysis of wine of South
On the nose in the region of South often reveals types of flavors of earth, tree fruit or citrus fruit and sometimes also flavors of non oak, oak or red fruit. In the mouth in the region of South is a powerful with a nice freshness.
News from the vineyard of South
Andrew Jefford: ‘Drinking cheap wine need not be a cheap experience’
Annual domestic gas bills in the UK threaten to rival, in craziness, the price of a box of Bordeaux first growths. Those energy costs have sent the price of almost everything else ripping up after them. Is there, um, anything to be said for cheap wine? There is. First, though, we must sip the bitter harvest of alcohol taxes. These are high in the UK and higher still in Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and India; they tend to vary by state in the US and by province in Canada, and in general th ...
Rhône Valley Wine Tour with Matt Walls
We are excited to announce the first of Decanter’s Wine Experiences, a series of carefully curated wine trips hosted by our regional wine specialists. Each trip is a carefully tailored once-in-a-lifetime experience that will grant guests access to the best vineyards, restaurants and wine experts of the region. Starting with a trip to the Rhône valley, Matt Walls will be hosting the first Decanter Wine Experience, imparting his knowledge of the region which he has honed over the years while rep ...
Palladius and Columella verticals: Eben Sadie’s Swartland flagships
The rapid rise of South Africa’s Swartland wine region over the past 20 years has been thrilling to watch. And arguably the most influential winemaker during this renaissance has – and continues to be – Eben Sadie. Sadie was in London recently for a vertical tasting of his flagship wines, the red blend Columella and white blend Palladius. He explained to a rapt audience of critics, buyers and sommeliers how his approach to winemaking has changed over the years, and revealed how he’s preparing fo ...