FOOD & DRINK
TINTA TINTO: WINEMAKING IN ALGARROBO
By BLAIR ANTHONY
ALGARROBO HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS “SLEEPY” MORE THAN ONCE IN OTHER PUBLICATIONS. A SMALL
TOWN IN THE LITORAL CENTRAL AREA OF THE 5TH REGION, IT IS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN ISLA NEGRA TO
THE SOUTH, HOME TO ONE OF PABLO NERUDA’S MANY HOMES, AND VALPARAÍSO TO THE NORTH.
ALGARROBO — In the summer, the beaches are packed on
the weekends, and in the winter, it really does become sleepy.
So it’s surprising to find a homegrown winemaking enterprise
in the heart of Algarrobo, a town with no grapevines in sight!
Roberto Carrancá is a winemaker by profession, working at
Viña Indomita in the Casablanca Valley. He lives full-time in
Algarrobo, with his wife Javiera Fuentes and two daughters.
Like many in the wine industry, our wishes and desires are
oftentimes playing second fiddle to market demands and
commercial necessities, and Roberto found himself making
wine that wasn’t necessarily representative of his winemaking
philosophy.
Roberto is among a large group of winemakers with “day
jobs” at large wineries and side projects that allow them to be
more creative. Many large wineries support their winemakers
in these endeavors and some do not… Roberto has clearly
created a thriving project, and large wineries should take
notice.
Roberto and Javiera personally receive visitors at their home,
and are available to answer any questions, explain their
process, and lead you through a small tasting if you so desire.
They are personable and friendly, and the “tour” will be like no
other winery tour you’ve ever been on.
And the best part? The wines are delicious, well-priced,
special, and you can take them home to drink right away.
The Syrah is fragrant and fruity with good tannins and good
acidity, due to the slow maturation of the grapes in the coastal
climate of Casablanca.
The Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a very traditional
winemaking area, and is a true reflection of the variety.
Neither wine is spending time in new oak barrels, something
that Chilean wineries have come to depend upon when
producing red wines.
Tinta Tinto currently produces two wines: a cool-climate Syrah
from the Casablanca Valley, and a Cabernet Sauvignon from
Puente Alto in the Maipo Valley.
The grapes are sourced by Roberto and Javiera, and are
brought to their backyard winemaking operation in bins. It
really gives a whole new meaning to “garage wine,” because
the entire process, from selection, to fermentation to ageing
takes place in their backyard and garage.
It is all done by hand, with literally no electricity used, except
for the cork machine. Everything else is as artisanal as you can
get, in the best way possible.
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