Our Apaltagua Rosé sparkling wine is the first sparkling wine made from Carmenere grapes from the Apalta Valley. The freshness of the aromas is reminiscent of cherries, rose petals and red fruits. In the mouth flavors of dried fruit appear, while the texture is silky and fresh. The bubbles are crisp and balanced, with a continuous, elegant expression.

Variety: 85% Carmenere – 15% Syrah
Appellation: Apalta – Colchagua Valley
Winemaker: Carolina França
Winemaker Consultant: Juan Carlos Faúndez
Bottled: At The Estate

Vineyards
Our entire vineyard is handled with care and respect for the environment that surrounds it. The grapes for our Apaltagua Rosé sparkling wine come from our own 60 hectare vineyard in Apalta, a small area with a unique micro terroir in the Colchagua Valley. This area is known as a place “blessed by the hand of God” thanks to its extraordinary natural conditions for the development of Vitis vinifera grapes, especially Carmenere.

Climate
The Colchagua Valley has a Mediterranean-style climate with cold, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The valley is known for the marked difference in temperature between day and night, which provides optimal growing conditions for our grapes.

Vinification
This Carmenere is harvested much earlier than normal, in order to obtain the color, freshness and body which characterize our sparkling wines. After harvest the whole-cluster grapes are pressed directly without passing through a period of maceration. The must is separated from the lees for a clean fermentation in stainless steel tanks, which lasts from 10-20 days, using selected yeasts, at a temperature between 12-13°C (54-56°F). Maturation with the fine lees takes place in stainless steel tanks for 2-3 months in order to reinforce the structure and aromas of the wine. To this wine we add the liqueur de tirage (including yeast and nutrients) for the second fermentation in the bottle. The wine ages for 9 months at a constant temperature of 10-12°C (50-53°F). The last step of the process is removing the lees by gravity, turning the bottle gradually so that the lees gather in the neck of the bottle, in order to perform the disgorgement. Finally, we add the dosage and cork the bottle.

Notes from the winemaker
Our Apaltagua Rosé sparkling wine is the first sparkling wine made from Carmenere grapes from the Apalta Valley. The freshness of the aromas is reminiscent of cherries, rose petals and red fruits. In the mouth flavors of dried fruit appear, while the texture is silky and fresh. The bubbles are crisp and balanced, with a continuous, elegant expression.