Many people will be taking a cruise from Valparaiso or arriving by Cruise ship this 2008-9 season and they will have lots to do in the area ie a winetour.
The main cruise lines passing through this season will be;
Silverseas
Hurti Gruten Group
Royal Caribbean
Princess Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Holland America
Mitsui O.S.K.Passenger Line
There are more, but these are the main ones that will be coming and going this season. In between this coming and going there will lots of visits to vineyards, not only to the Casablanca and San Antonio valleys but also to the Maipo valley just south of Santiago.
Transfers from the port to Santiago can either take in The Casablanca Valley or go direct to Maipo making it easy to get to either ones hotel or to the airport.
Also many people will be arriving at the airport with the intention of going direct to the Valparaiso port so they can catch thier cruise liner but do not realize that they could enjoy a winetour stroke transfer from the airport.
For more information on the port visit VTP and cruise line websites.
martes, 21 de octubre de 2008
Casablanca 2008 Releases
We are now at that time of year when all of the vineyards are out releasing thier 2008 vintages and i would just like to mention a few that i have sampled from Casablanca.
William Cole, Alto Vuelo, Sauvignon Blanc 2008
This wine has not changed really in my opinion. I think that the winemaker has managed to keep a clean balanced, citric, mineral tasting Sauvignon Blanc with a citrus aroma, so it stays as refreshing as before with no leaps of improvement or going backwards.
Viña Mar, Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Now this wine has definately improved from 2007. Its vibrant tropical aroma of pineapple and has stayed the same, but the taste has come on some what from last years vintage. It has a much sharper fruitier taste with alot more zest and is very refreshing.
For more info visit the websites of William Cole and Viña Mar
William Cole, Alto Vuelo, Sauvignon Blanc 2008
This wine has not changed really in my opinion. I think that the winemaker has managed to keep a clean balanced, citric, mineral tasting Sauvignon Blanc with a citrus aroma, so it stays as refreshing as before with no leaps of improvement or going backwards.
Viña Mar, Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Now this wine has definately improved from 2007. Its vibrant tropical aroma of pineapple and has stayed the same, but the taste has come on some what from last years vintage. It has a much sharper fruitier taste with alot more zest and is very refreshing.
For more info visit the websites of William Cole and Viña Mar
Decanter Chile 2008 guide
Whilst reading an article called "Pillars of strength" by Steven Spurrier in the Decanter Chile 2008 guide. I could not help but notice how some very good wines and vineyards had been left out, especially those from Casablanca.
Although Casa Marin with their Riesling and Gewurtstraminer, Leyda with thier Pinot, and Matetic with thier EQ Syrah (Technically San Antonio y Leyda Valleys)had been mentioned, i was extreamly suprised that William Cole, Catrala, Veramonte and Viña Mar had not been included.
Another suprise was Viña Aquitania, Sol de Sol Chardonnay, Malleco 2006 being dubbed the best Chardonnay in Chile, surely this is not true and the best of this variety is only to be found in Casablanca, which has the perfect terroir in Chile for such wines.
Further on in the suplement Peter Richards writes on the Limari valley as the next big thing and stating that Chardonnay happens to be the rising star from this part of Chile and in fact Limari has some remarkable similarities to Casablanca. It is not to say that an article on Limari is not warranted, but for the life of me i could not quite understand the exclution of Casablanca.
It so happens that in this 34 page glossy pull out Veramante had taken out a full page colour advert “Where would you plant your vines?” slap bang in the middle of the article on Limari which provide an interesting little juxtapose and a reminder of where the best whites are made.
“Digging Deep” is the article by Anthony Rose and atlast we see something on Casablanca but not regarding Sauvignon Blanc o Cardonnay, but Pinot Noir and the vineyard mentioned is Casas Del Bosque and includes interviews from Felipe Garcia and Felipe Uribe. It would have been good to have ackknowledged Villard, Kingston, Catrala and Viñamar who in my opinoin has produced a smashing Pinot Noir within the 3000 peso price region.
While profoundly wanting this Decanter pull out to give more recognition to the valley where i work and admire the intirerity of its wine, you can not help but feel enthuiastic about Chilean wine as a whole, after reading this collection of articles and promotions. “The new worlds most exiting wine country” as is stated on the front cover. Living here and plying my trade in this industry i can truely say Chilean wine is very striking indeed.
Although Casa Marin with their Riesling and Gewurtstraminer, Leyda with thier Pinot, and Matetic with thier EQ Syrah (Technically San Antonio y Leyda Valleys)had been mentioned, i was extreamly suprised that William Cole, Catrala, Veramonte and Viña Mar had not been included.
Another suprise was Viña Aquitania, Sol de Sol Chardonnay, Malleco 2006 being dubbed the best Chardonnay in Chile, surely this is not true and the best of this variety is only to be found in Casablanca, which has the perfect terroir in Chile for such wines.
Further on in the suplement Peter Richards writes on the Limari valley as the next big thing and stating that Chardonnay happens to be the rising star from this part of Chile and in fact Limari has some remarkable similarities to Casablanca. It is not to say that an article on Limari is not warranted, but for the life of me i could not quite understand the exclution of Casablanca.
It so happens that in this 34 page glossy pull out Veramante had taken out a full page colour advert “Where would you plant your vines?” slap bang in the middle of the article on Limari which provide an interesting little juxtapose and a reminder of where the best whites are made.
“Digging Deep” is the article by Anthony Rose and atlast we see something on Casablanca but not regarding Sauvignon Blanc o Cardonnay, but Pinot Noir and the vineyard mentioned is Casas Del Bosque and includes interviews from Felipe Garcia and Felipe Uribe. It would have been good to have ackknowledged Villard, Kingston, Catrala and Viñamar who in my opinoin has produced a smashing Pinot Noir within the 3000 peso price region.
While profoundly wanting this Decanter pull out to give more recognition to the valley where i work and admire the intirerity of its wine, you can not help but feel enthuiastic about Chilean wine as a whole, after reading this collection of articles and promotions. “The new worlds most exiting wine country” as is stated on the front cover. Living here and plying my trade in this industry i can truely say Chilean wine is very striking indeed.
martes, 22 de julio de 2008
Sommelier school in the 5th region
The Sommeliers association of Chile have decided to move its training school to the 5th region of Chile for the first time since its creation.
Sommelier courses have normally taken place in Santiago and now the association have given restaurant owners and catering staff the opportunity to become profesionals in wine.
The course is divided into three parts and takes place in the Hotel San Martín (Viña del Mar), with the first part starting in July and finnishing in September.
This is an interesting moment for the 5th region which does not have many acredited wine professionals in the region and should inspire more people to take the qualification.
For more information visit http://www.sommelierdechile.cl
Regards
winetoursvalparaiso
Sommelier courses have normally taken place in Santiago and now the association have given restaurant owners and catering staff the opportunity to become profesionals in wine.
The course is divided into three parts and takes place in the Hotel San Martín (Viña del Mar), with the first part starting in July and finnishing in September.
This is an interesting moment for the 5th region which does not have many acredited wine professionals in the region and should inspire more people to take the qualification.
For more information visit http://www.sommelierdechile.cl
Regards
winetoursvalparaiso
Enjoy wine del Mar
On the 26th 27th and 28th of July 2008 Enjoy Viña del Mar Hotel and Casino will be holding their annual wine expo.
The winetoursvalparaiso team hope to see you there enjoying some of the great wine chile has to offer.
Tickets are priced at 5.000 Chilean Pesos per person.
Regards
winetoursvalparaiso
The winetoursvalparaiso team hope to see you there enjoying some of the great wine chile has to offer.
Tickets are priced at 5.000 Chilean Pesos per person.
Regards
winetoursvalparaiso
domingo, 29 de junio de 2008
Valposki 2008 skiing from Valparaiso
If you like to ski as well as taste wine you could always enjoy the Chilean slopes with Valposki.
Valposki runs oneday ski trips from Valparaiso to the El Colorado resort just east of Santiago.
The great thing about Valposki is that you get to stay by the sea and enjoy the mountains with out having to stay in Santiago.
for more information contact michael@valposki.cl
Valposki runs oneday ski trips from Valparaiso to the El Colorado resort just east of Santiago.
The great thing about Valposki is that you get to stay by the sea and enjoy the mountains with out having to stay in Santiago.
for more information contact michael@valposki.cl
A great Harvest for 2008
The harvest(vendimia)2008 has come to an end with all the vineyards now in the fermenting process to produce the 2008 range of wines. Thanks to all the vineyards of Casablanca and San Antonio who acommodated so many wine tourists inside a very busy period.
Regards
Winetoursvalparaiso
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