RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The first edition of the Novo Chile Wine Week will take place in Rio de Janeiro between August 13th and 17th, an event that will bring together representatives of seven wineries from the Novo Chile (New Chile) movement, ranked among the best in the Latin American country.
The program includes the Premium Tasting — a free tasting of all participating wines served by their own winemakers, the Degustação Dirigida (Directed Tasting) at ABS-Rio, the Master Class at the annual meeting of the oldest Oenological Forum in Brazil, as well as dinners at different restaurants throughout the city, where exclusive labels which have not yet been sold in Brazil will be showcased.
The group is made up of small wineries dedicated to working with new winemaking methods and styles. In addition to the high quality, they work in search of identity. To achieve this, they invest in more sustainable and free production models, explore wild areas and terroirs (latitudes and plantation systems) or even produce from century-old vines that constitute a hitherto neglected wine-growing heritage.
The result consists of exclusive labels in limited quantities, with their own DNA that reflects the climate, geography, soil, and the interaction of each of these producers with the natural resources of their regions.
“Brazilians are already major consumers of Chilean wine, and in this event, we want to introduce another aspect of the country’s wine industry. We are small producers, dedicated to producing sustainably, and we are convinced that the quality of our wines will surprise. We decided to hold the first edition of the Novo Chile Wine Week in Rio de Janeiro because its residents deserve a place of greater relevance at the national level and we are sure that they will embrace this project,” said David Giacomini, curator of the event and the only Brazilian among the participating producers.
The Novo Chile Wine Week will bring together seven award-winning wineries, ranked among the 125 best in Chile by British critic Tim Atkin, Master of Wine and one of the most influential personalities in the world of wine. They consist of three categories:
Terroir Extremes Category
The term refers to the differing and most extreme forms and conditions of production. The wineries classified in this category are in new wine-growing areas, occupying the land in a differentiated way, “stressing” the vines to ensure more concentrated wines, and planting their vineyards in areas where no one had previously thought to plant.
Vinicola Trapi — Located at the border of Chile’s Patagonia and at the geographical limit where it is possible to grow grapes, it produces the southernmost Pinot Noir in Chile.
Wine highlighted at the event: Trapi Pinot Noir
Winemaker: Rodrigo Romero
Villalobos Winery — With century-old vines grown freely amid bush vegetation, Villalobos Winery stands out as the vineyard closest to its natural state, without human intervention and harvesting performed by stairs over the trees.
Wines featured in the event: Villalobos Carignan, Lobo Carménère and Zorrito Salvaje.
Winemaker: Martin Villalobos
La Recova winery — La Recova is located in the coldest region of the Casablanca Valley, and its plantations can be found on steep and breathtaking slopes, with vines separated a mere eighty cm apart. This is the Sauvignon Blanc vineyard of highest plantation density in Chile.
Wines featured in the event: Avid Sauvignon Blanc and Obstinado Rosé Demi-sec
Winemaker: David Giacomini
Reinterpreted Classics Category
The wineries included in this category read differently from the classic Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, and blends of red grapes. The artisanal production format, with minimal intervention, results in high-quality wines.
Laura Hartwig Winery – The family winery located in the Colchagua Valley is one of the most prized wineries of our time. It has 145 hectares planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carmenère, Malbec, Syrah, and Petit Verdot, with sustainable and low impact viticulture. Its Edición de Familia wine is ranked among the 100 best wines in Chile and recognized for making the best Cabernet Franc and the best Petit Verdot in Chile.
The wines featured in this event are: Laura Hartwig Edición de Familia (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot), Selección del Viticultor (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all with a minimum of 12 months ageing in barrels), Single Vineyard (Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère) and Laluca (Malbec and Merlot).
Winemaker: Renato Czischke
Alchemy Winery – Voted the best small production winery in Chile and also the best Carmenère at Catad’Or in Santiago.
Wines featured in the event: Alchemy Gran Cuvee and Parroné Syrah
Winemaker: Eduardo Camerati
OWM Winery – This small production winery is located in the Panama Valley in Colchagua, a place that has a microclimate that differentiates it from other vineyards in the same region.
Wines featured in the event: OWM Handmade (a unique blend of six grape varieties with fifteen months aging in oak barrels) and Pillo de Panamá (blend of Cabernet-Syrah created in cement tanks).
Winemaker: José Antonio Bravo
Patrimonial Grape Varieties Category
This category refers to an initiative aimed at rescuing Chile’s viticultural heritage, valuing the country’s old and original vines.
Bowines Winery – Century-old Carignan vines (from the time when Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were not fashionable) are being rescued and worked on by this award-winning small-scale winery.
Wines featured in the event: Carae (revelation of Guia Descorchados wine), Malcriado (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan), Fillo Carignan, Fillo Malbec
Winemaker: Alvin Miranda
Programming
Tuesday, August 13th, 7:30 PM to 11 PM — Blind tasting dinner with winemakers
Restaurants Yacht Club, Skinna da Barra and La Copa Carne e Vinho are just some of the places where dinners will be held. It is an opportunity to dine with one of the winemakers from the Novo Chile wineries and also taste wines from the private vats that are not for sale. The wines will be paired with dishes specially selected for the occasion. The venue and the winemaker are a surprise that will only be revealed a few days before the event.
Applicants must specify the neighborhood in which they live and whether they have any dietary restrictions. Each restaurant will host a group of up to twenty people.
Price: R$ 199,00
Reservations: WhatsApp: (21) 96937-3622 or directly with the restaurant.
Wednesday, August 14th, from 7:30 PM to 10 PM — Tasting for ABS (Brazilian Association of Sommeliers) members.
This exclusive event for ABS members will bring together the seven winemakers from the most representative wineries in Novo Chile. Each one will present a wine at this guided tasting.
Price: R$ 70,00
Reservations: Directly at ABS-RJ
Thursday, August 15th, from 3:30 PM to 7 PM — Trade Show
The event will be exclusive for wine professionals and the press. It is an opportunity to learn further details about the market and the production movement in Novo Chile, taste, and interact with winemakers.
Venue: Brazilian Israeli Club — CIB – R. Barata Ribeiro 489 – Copacabana
Thursday, August 15th, from 7 PM to 11 PM — Premium Tasting
Soon after the Trade Show, the main event of Novo Chile Wine Week will begin. The Premium Tasting will occupy an area of 500 m² in the Brazilian Israeli Club, in Copacabana. For the first time in Rio de Janeiro, the public will be able to enjoy an incredible experience with the vanguard of Chilean wines, already revered by the most influential critics in the world. When entering the event, each participant will receive a professional tasting glass. This will give everyone the green light to taste freely at the Premium Tasting and chat with winemakers. Everyone can take the glass home, as a souvenir of the Novo Chile Wine Week’s first edition.
Price: R$ 149
Place: Brazilian Israeli Club — CIB – R. Barata Ribeiro 489 – Copacabana
Information and tickets: http://wineweek.com.br/events/premium-tasting/
Friday, August 16th, 7:30 PM to 11 PM — Blind tasting dinner with winemakers
Mr. Lam and Dom Pascual restaurants are only some of the venues where dinners will be held. It’s an opportunity to dine with one of the winemakers from the Novo Chile wineries while tasting wines from the private cellars that are not for sale. The wines will be paired with dishes specially selected for the occasion. The place and the winemaker are a surprise that will only be revealed a few days before the event.
Applicants must specify the neighborhood in which they live and whether they have any dietary restrictions. Each restaurant will host a group of up to twenty people.
Price: R$ 199
Reservations: WhatsApp: (21) 96937-3622 or directly with the restaurant.
Saturday, August 17th, from 2 PM to 6 PM — Masterclass (Penedo – RJ)
Each winemaker at Novo Chile Wine Week will be in charge of a Masterclass during the annual meeting of the country’s oldest Oenological Forum: the Vamos à Montanha (Let’s Go to the Mountain), in Penedo two hours west of Rio. The event will last four hours, together with the tasting of eleven selected wines.
Price: R$ 247 for VAM participants and R$ 284 for the external public.
Reservations: WhatsApp: (21) 96937-3622 or directly with the VAM organization.
SERVICE
Novo Chile Wine Week
From August 13th to 17th
Tickets and programming: www.wineweek.com.br