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Casa Silva produces first wine from Chile's most southern wine region

Published:  17 January, 2014

Casa Silva has produced the first wine from what it claims is Chile's southern most wine region in the region of Chilean Patagonia some 350km from Bio Bio the previous most southern area capable of growing wine in the country.  

Casa Silva has produced the first wine from what it claims is Chile's southern most wine region in the region of Chilean Patagonia some 350km from Bio Bio the previous most southern area capable of growing wine in the country. 

The vineyard is situated in Futrono, nearly 1,000 km south of Santiago and is strongly influenced by the unique wine growing conditions of being close to the Andes and next to Lake Rancon and receives 1,800mm of rainfall a year. 

Mario Geisse, head winemaker and technical director, said: "Due to the fact the area has little sunshine, in comparison to the rest of South America's vineyards, the steep exposure and aspect of the vineyard is crucial. It allows us to utilise the sun alongside an exceptional natural drainage system. The volcanic, sedimentary rocks, with mixed types of sand, pyroclastic rocks and trumaos volcanic ash have allowed for high biological activity.The high levels of porous volcanic stones have created an underlying minerality, resulting in wines with great depth and a hugely exciting potential for further development."

The first wines, a Lake Ranco Sauvignon Blanc 2013 and Lake Ranco Pinot Noir 2013, are the result of seven years of wine development in the region by Casa Silva. It first planted Sauvignon Banc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at the site in 2006. It carried out "experimental harvests" in 2010 and 2011 where it found the vines matured more slowly than normal. 

Mario Pablo Silva, Casa Silva's managing director explained: "As a winery we are continually looking to broaden our horizons and challenge the parameters of what is capable within Chilean winemaking. Ranco is cooler than any other wine region, and vintage variation is likely to be more dramatic, but the soils are ideal and we are delighted with our first harvest. The potential for the future is extremely exciting and we are delighted to be the first winery to carry out such a project!"

The wines are currently only available in the domestic market but will be exported shortly. 

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