Vinateros Bravos Pipeno Blanc

A talented young winemaker and viticulturalist with a degree in Agronomy and Enology from the University of Chile, Leonardo Erazo travelled the world for ten years to learn about and gain experience in classic and remote wine regions and their diverse terroirs. During this time he studied biodynamic methods in California, soil types in South Africa, and geology in New Zealand, among other adventures. In Itata, Leonardo has worked with the scattered local farmers’ old vines—many well over 100 years, still growing as dry farmed, untrained small bushes—to enhance their traditional natural practices to align with biodynamic guidelines. His mission, throughout this journey, has been to bring a sense of place into the bottle.

The Pipeno comes from the Guarilihue region of Itata, southern Chile, a climate influenced by nearby Pacific Ocean – 7001000 mm of rain per year Located high on a hill the nearly seventy-year-old bush vines are on marginal granitic soils, very sandy with large quartz deposits. The wine itself is a field blend containing predominantly Moscatel but also other grapes such as Corinto and Semillon, co-harvested and co-fermented in tank with native yeasts. Bottled with minimal intervention in a litre bottle this is a turbid natural tasting wine with a touch of grapefruit, dried spices and a zesty tang.