Updated: May 23, 2021
Cosecha: 15 oct 2018
Cantidad: 110 kg Alcohol: 12.5% Maduración: 6 meses en barrica. 3 en acero
Maceración: 3 días prefermentativa con 10% raspones
Notas de Cata:
Fruta roja (cerezas)
Butterscotch Charqui Acidez mordiente
Updated: May 22, 2021
Our new grape plants have arrived from France and they will soon be spreading roots in Apu's argilo-calcaire soils. Here at one of the highest wineries and vineyards in the world, we are growing up (in altitude) and growing out (expanding). This growth will help us achieve one of our main goals: to revolutionize viticulture in Peru by shifting vineyards from the Pacific coast to high-altitude microclimates in the Andes. We hope that by expanding our vineyards and experimenting with new varieties, others will follow our lead and invest in the incredible viticultural potential of the Andes. The optimal conditions at these high altitudes provide ample opportunities for producing more premium Peruvian wine for worldwide consumption.
We have two main plots at different altitudes. Our largest vineyards, located at 2,850 meters, are currently producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese and Malbec. We will be planting more quantities of those varieties and also adding Syrah, Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
By mid-May, our vineyards at 3,300 meters will be lined with Malbec, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. We chose Malbec and Chardonnay for this high altitude because of their successful track record as traditional “Andean” varieties. Pinot Noir was also a viable choice because the climate is cooler and sometimes foggy at 3,300 meters, which should be an excellent habitat for these vines.
As with all grapevines we plant here, we believe these will be successful because they are grafted with a special root-stock for limestone soils.
By the end of August of this year, we will have 7 hectares (17.3 acres) planted, leaving us with 3 hectares of open space for us to experiment with in the future. Stay tuned for our future growth plans, as we may purchase more land or import more varieties!
Updated: May 22, 2021
Vineyards in Eastern Washington State and Mendoza, Argentina are renowned for their diurnal temperature variation, AKA thermal amplitude. Thermal amplitude can be described as an extreme temperature range within a 24-hour period (hot days and cool nights). Here at our high-altitude vineyards in the Peruvian Andes, we have considerable temperature shifts. Due to our high elevation, days are hot and nights are cold. However, it never freezes here because our proximity to the Amazon Rainforest. To give you an idea of these shifts in temperature, here is a recent snapshot of our thermometer:
So how does a drastic thermal amplitude affect the plants and influence our wine? The answer comes down to photosynthesis, respiration and the energy saving abilities of vines. During the day, plants undergo photosynthesis to produce energy and store carbohydrates (glucose). Plants also respire, which is when they convert nutrients obtained from soil into energy for their cellular activities.
At night, plants continue respiration, but can't photosynthesize without sunlight. This means the vines use less energy at night. Also, respiration slows with colder temperatures, so the lower the nightly temperature, the less energy the grapevine consumes. Plants can therefore use this leftover energy for their fruit, creating berries that are more rich, colorful and intense. Moreover, the heat during the day allows our grapes to ripen faster and develop more sugar, while also developing darker fruit flavors and thicker skins, giving us some lovely tannins in our wine. Finally, as we have mentioned in previous blog posts, cool nights are also crucial for generating acidity in the grapes.
It was quite surprising for us to find the optimum viticultural conditions at this location in the Peruvian Andes. Thanks to our proximity to the jungle and our high-altitude, an exceptional thermal amplitude works in our favor 365 days of the year, providing us a premium wine that is fruity, balanced, colorful and robust.
Source:
“Visiting Mendoza, Argentina Part 1: A Question of Altitude.” Wine Anorak, 2008, www.wineanorak.com/Argentina/argentina1_altitude.htm.