The House of Santa Rita

by Charlotta April 2010

Chilean wines are truly a treat, which more and more people outside of the Chilean boarders are discovering. The hidden treasures of Chile are not only its wines, but also its food, culture, history and tradition, its geography and its soil. And as we all know, these are corner stones of wine-making.

One of the true jewels of Chilean wine making is the remarkable variety Carménere. Previously hidden, or rather forgotten, among the other grape varietals (merlot) in 1994 Professor Jean-Michel Boursiquot from the Montpellier’s school of Oenology in France “discovered” or rather re-discovered the Carménere. He confirmed that an earlier-ripening vine was Bordeaux Carménère, not Merlot as previously believed. In 1998 The Chilean Department of Agriculture officially recognized Carménère as a distinct variety. Today, Carménère grows chiefly in the Colchagua Valley, Rapel Valley, and Maipo Province.

The house of Santa Rita offers a nice selection and spread of types and price range for all. Two of my favorites are:

The Santa Rita Reserva Carménère 2007, 100% Carménere, with its intense ruby-red color and bouquet of dark velvety chocolates, hints of vanilla and ripe fruit lends its self to one of these wines you should always have at home. Just in case. It is medium bodied and as such works with foods, for example red meats, a grilled Gruyere cheese sandwich and salad, or a ripe camembert with dried fruits as well as by its self. Chilled it is an alternative to heavier Pinot Noir and room tempered to a lighter Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are grown in the Rapel Valley, (see map below) where winters are mostly rainy with no no spring frosts and the grapes are nourished to its maturity during the warm summers.

The Santa Rita Reserva Carménère retails for about $11-$15 dollar.

Pehuén – Carménère 2005 has that perfect blend of 85% Carménère and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, where the grapes are 85% from the Apalta region and 15% from the Maipo Valley. This wine is something else. It is intense. It is deep. It has integrity and softness. Its complexity and elegance provide presence and yet allows for a dreamlike stage. Dark and rich in its carmine color the wine fills its glass as much as your palette. This is a wine to enjoy, be sure anything you have with it upholds the same level of quality. If you split it with two others you are just spending about 20 dollars plus… but the two-three glasses you get are a true find of pure enjoyment!

The Pehuén – Carménère 2005 retails for about $60 dollar.