Exotic wines hide in the heights of Chile’s Atacama desert

Could 23 (Reuters) – Excessive temperatures, intense desert solar and excessive altitudes give grapes grown in Chile’s Atacama Desert a thick pores and skin, which indigenous farmers from the world’s driest desert says results in an intensely coloured wine with daring flavors.

Up at 3,600 meters (11,800 toes) above sea stage, in between highland peaks with scarce vegetation, the grapes from Caracoles winery face up to excessive temperature fluctuations and harsh climate. Regardless of that, Cecilia Cruz, who has managed the winery for the final six years, says she is used to the desert’s tough circumstances.

“For me it’s not tough as a result of I am raised on the land,” stated Cruz, who’s 67. “That is the longer term for my kids additionally for later, when I’m not right here, for them. I’m very proud.”

Indigenous Atacama folks like Cruz have lengthy grown different crops and used trial-and-error to determine learn how to develop high-altitude wines. Cruz is one in every of 18 producers that kind a part of the Lickanantay Farmer Cooperative which makes the wine, referred to as Allyu.

The group produces about 12,500 bottles of Allyu every year. The wine has gained worldwide awards and the vineyards are near the vacationer vacation spot of San Pedro de Atacama.

Regardless of their success, Cruz says there are difficulties with grape progress that she thinks could possibly be solved by specialists visiting the winery. However based on Allyu’s oenologist, Fabian Munoz, different challenges, like intense solar, have change into an asset by giving the wine a novel profile.

“We have now 360 days of solar, ultraviolet radiation, we’ve very chilly nights, this makes our crimson grapes generate a thicker pores and skin,” Munoz stated.

“Subsequently, naturally from the place, we’ve crimson wines with an excellent shade, with excellent tannin, a really versatile aroma that makes our wines very complicated, have many aromas, have many flavors,” he added.

Reuters TV report, writing by Fabian Andres Cambero and Alexander Villegas; Modifying by Lisa Shumaker

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