Vineyard Tunquen in Colchagua

I took a trip to Colchagua at the week end to visit a friend having an engagement party and i brought along a promotional bottle of Tunquen Syrah.

It went down very well with everyone and alot of winemakers that had turned up to the party.

Polkura

What does it mean?

I don't know but it tastes good.

Polkura, Syrah, Colchagua, 2009.

Elegant, fruity, spicey and balanced.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Here is just one of Chiles many stray dogs Chilling out on the streets of Vina del Mar.

Traditional Chilean folkloric dances.

One of the interesting things about Chile are the numerous folkloric dances that exist.

At the school my two sons attend we were treated to a show of various examples of folkloric dances that come from all over Chile.

The famous and most popular dance is the cueca, which is normally performed by a man and a women, each holding a white napkin. The stand a distance from each other before the music starts, then they proceed to dance around each, waving the in a swirling motion above their heads. It is supposed to suggest some kind of mating ritual like that of a cockerel and hen.

All of this was put on at the school to celebrate Chilean independence day, September 18th, which is a national holiday.

Not perfect but great.

It was not perfect. Not everyone that had been invited turned up to the Valparaiso launch of Tunquen wines. But you can be sure that we had a great time talking about and tasting these fine wines.

Viña Tunquen wine presentation at the Fauna Hotel, Valparaiso.

I am looking forward to tomorrows presentation of Tunquen wines at the Hotel Fauna tomorrow.

Quaint arty things you can pick up in Valparaiso.

Its always great when someone enjoys Valparaiso for what it has to offer. Not just the hill side lifts and magical realism of the city, but the wonderful bits of art that you can so easily buy.

Some great works can be found at around $10.000USD, which for some people is pocket money, but you can still get your hands on something creative to stick on your wall at home for as little as $20USD.

One happy buyer kindly sent me a photo of her proud purchase, framed and mounted on her wall back in Miami.

I won't tell  you how much she payed for it.