My next career: Winemaker
by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady
 There
is probably nowhere better to learn to be a winemaker than Chile: Wonderful
climate, great grapes and an innovative state of mind that is based on
tradition but open to experiment.
This innovative state of mind is best exemplified by the fact that I was
given a chance to blend my own wine. Recently I explored wineries within 90
minutes of Santiago with a group of four other journalists, I was offered
the opportunity to blend my own wine. Each of the other writers was
definitely more knowledgeable, while I could barely spell and pronounce the
varietals.
The process and procedure
 Our first visit was to the
amazing Undurraga Winery, one of the oldest winery in Chile that produces
more than 20 million liters per year
 After touring the grounds
of Undurraga Wine of Chile, we went into a spacious room set with a table of
beakers, funnels and four wines to create our own special blends.
First we tasted the Cabernet/Syrah Aliwen 2009 for inspiration. Actually,
I did not find it very inspiring. It tasted weak and flat. I knew right away
that I wanted to create something different. So perhaps it was inspirational
in that it motivated me to do something different.
 Then we tried out four varietal wines that would be the ingredients of
our own personal  blends. The 2010 Merlot was fruity, but had a leathery
taste. The 2010 Carmenere was my favorite. I knew that it would be the major
part of my blend. I hated the 2010 Syrah-- it had a sulphurous smell that I
found very off-putting. I was certain it would not be part of my final
product. The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon was pleasant, so I decided to go with a
half and half blend of my two favorites.
My own winemaking technique
 
Everyone else deliberated greatly before filling their beaker with wine.
I just poured both my wines right in. I was the first one done.
Just for fun, I asked the winemaker , Carlos Concha, to taste my wine.
Obviously he has a sophisticated and sensitive palate, because he had the
nicest things to say about my blend. In fact, the tasting notes for my wine
were the most positive of the group.
 Here is what Carlos had to say,” Nice aroma. Good fruit. Well-blended,
spicy, smooth, silky, not dry. His only suggestion was that it needed
more complexity. (I guess when it comes to wines, I may be simple minded.
But then I only blended two wines—everyone else got more complex) Carlos
acknowledged that there was lots of Carmenere.
At the bottom of my wine-blotted placemat, he wrote, “Congratulations.
Nice Blend.” I felt that I had gotten an A on a very important paper.
I didn’t just blend. I also got to bottle my own wine and name and label
it.
I brought the wine home and am waiting for the perfect opportunity to
share it.
Some perfect pairings with Undurraga
If you would like to try to simulate this experience at home, you can at
least get the Undurraga wines and make dishes similar to the menu we enjoyed
APERITIF
Goat cheese Brochettes
Undurraga Brut Royal N.V.
STARTER
Avocado Mousse on a Bed of Greens
T.H. Sauvignon Blanc Leyda 2009
MAIN COURSE
Patagonian Lamb Chops in Morello Cherry Sauce
Served with Caramelized
Onions
Quinoa and Fine Herbs Risotto
Altazor 2007
DESSERT
4 Course Dessert – Chilean Delights
Quince Mille Feuilles with
Murtilla Sauce
Sopaipillas with Brown Molasses
Papaya Mousse
San
Juan Little Pears in a Wine Sauce
Undurraga Late Harvest
More about the Winery
 Don Francisco Undurraga, an enterprising man in the 19th century, was one
of the pioneers of winemaking in Chile and founder of Viña Undurraga. With
plants he brought over personally from France and Germany and under the
supervision of the renowned French viticulturist M. Pressac, he developed
the first vineyards in the Santa Ana Estate, which was named in honor of his
wife Doña Ana Fernández Iñiguez. This estate, located in Talagante, 34
kilometers from Santiago, in the heart of the
Maipo Valley, received its first plantations of
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc,
Merlot,
Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer in 1885 and by 1903, the first
shipments were being made to the USA.
Phone: (56-2) 372-2900 Fax: (56-2) 372-2946
Url: www.undurraga.cl
Address: Av. Vitacura 2939 piso 21, Vitacura, Santiago - Chile
Take a tour
It is easy to book a tour to Undugarra Winery. Depart from the hotel in
Santiago and as you drive towards the Maipo Valley enjoy beautiful
countryside landscape until you arrive at the Undurraga Winery. It
was founded in 1885 and has been nurtured by five generations.
Admire the great park that this winery has with trees that are 150 years
old or even more. Undurraga Winery produces more than 15 millions of litres
per year in its 140 hectares, being one of the oldest and more important
wineries in Chile.
It is an excellent tour for learning how the
wines are produced and how the winery works, with the chance of tasting some
of its final products.
Return to the hotel in Santiago.
Includes
- Entrance Fee
- Wine tasting
- Driver/guide
Excludes
- Meals and drinks (unless specified)
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
http://www.undurraga.cl/Sitio/en/visitus.html
For reservations, please contact the following numbers: (56-2) 372-2850 /
(56-2) 372-2865. Or send an e-mail to
visit@undurraga.cl.
Other wineries to visit (all within about 90 minutes of Santiago)
Casas del Bosque:
http://casasdelbosque.cl/
Matetic:
http://www.matetic.cl/
Altair:
http://www.altairwines.com/
Haras de Pirque:
http://www.harasdepirque.com/
Concha y Toro:
http://www.conchaytoro.com/
Winery at the top of my list for next time is Emiliana because they have
a wine and chocolate tasting.
I did a tasting of their wines at Valley Nevado.
http://www.emiliana.cl/
For More Information on Wines of Chile
Wines of
Chile
www.winesofchile.org
Wines of Chile - Main Office - Chile
Phone: (56-2) 218 0600
Address: Luis Pasteur 5280, Oficina 402,
Vitacura, Santiago, Chile
Background reading to get Ready for your Trip
Red Grapes, Hidden treasures
THE CARMENERE WINES OF CHILE from the Cachapaol Valley
The VIVA list LATIN AMERICA
333 Places and Experiences that People Love
Madelyn Miller is a travel and food and wine writer who loved Chile.
Her fantasy is to a winemaker at a gorgeous estate winery. Read her
stories on www.travellady.com,
www.carladynews.com,
www.yogayaya.com,
www.chocolateatlas.com,
www.cocktailatlas.com,
www.coffeeatlas.com,
www.teaAtlas.com
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