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Caliterra Estate is a winery located in the Colchagua Valley, 200 km (125 miles) south of Santiago and 60 km (37 miles) from the coast at 150 meters above sea level (500 feet a.s.l.).
Caliterra Estate has approximately 1,085 ha (2,681 acres) with approximately 75% of untouched land and Mediterranean climate, where cool nights and gentle breezes temper the sun’s energy creating perfectly ripe, intense, concentrated and balanced wines.
Caliterra is located in the heart of Colchagua, a protected valley southeast of Lago Rapel and adjoining the Apalta Valley. The vineyards were first planted in 1997, with 210 ha (518.5 acres) of Merlot, Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz and smaller lots of Malbec. Of the initial plantations, 55 ha (136 acres) of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Carménère are in transition to organic viticulture.
The valley’s Mediterranean climate is characterized by its winter rains and the strong influence of the cool breezes blowing from Lago Rapel and the Pacific. This climatic pattern allows the fruit to ripen on the vine, reflecting in wines with intense flavors and high tannin concentration. The vineyard has a wide range of soil textures with a high percentage of rock dominating the clay-loam soils.
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Caliterra’s philosophy is to craft environmentally friendly wines under the concepts of precision winegrowing and sustainable vineyard management, where each variety stands out for their fruity, fresh and distinctive style, expressing the quality and pureness of Chile’s nature, terroir and fruit.
Caliterra's sustainable approach to crafting wines gives great value to high standards of environmental quality, based on the objective of obtaining high-quality products, protecting the health of the consumer and the workers, respecting the environment (flora and fauna), working strongly united to the community and preserving the natural landscape for future generations.
The Caliterra Reserva wines are made from estate grown grapes specially selected by winemakers to enhance their expression of flavors and aromas. The modern and distinguished red wines are crafted from grapes that come from the Caliterra Vineyard in the Colchagua Valley aged in French and American oak barrels to achieve a more complex and elegant finish. The grapes for the zesty and fresh white wines come from the vineyards in the Curicó, Maipo and Casablanca Valleys.
The Caliterra Tributo wines are single vineyards, a testimony to the quality of the land, made by selecting Caliterra's best grapes. The wines express the unique harmony between the magic of the environment, the natural work in the vineyard and the friendly interaction with men.
The red variety grapes were hand harvested, rigorously selected, carefully fermented and aged for 14 months in French and American oak barrels, adding complexity and structure to the wine. The white varieties were delicately hand harvested, and specially selected to obtain a distinct character, personality and identity.
edit History
Caliterra was established in 1996 as a partnership between the Robert G. Mondavi family and Viña Errázuriz, who sought to realize their shared dream of producing high quality wines that reflect the potential of the Chilean nature, terroir and fruit.
The Colchagua Valley was chosen as the home of Caliterra Estate. Located in the heart of the valley, the estate of approximately 1,085 ha (2,681 acres) has 75% of untouched natural land and Mediterranean climate, where cool nights and gentle breezes temper the sun’s energy creating perfectly ripe, intense, concentrated and balanced wines.
In early 2004 Viña Errázuriz acquired the Robert Mondavi family’s 50% share in Caliterra, with the goal to craft premium environmentally friendly wines from one of the world’s most important winegrowing regions.
edit Contact
- Address
- Nueva Tajamar 481, Of. 503 Torre Sur, Santiago, Chile
- Phone
- (56-2) 339-9100
- mailto:wine.report@caliterra.cl
edit Visits
Take Panamerican highway, route 5, southbound towards San Fernando town, located at approximately 140 km from Santiago. At the Panamerican highway southtern exit (second) to San Fernando, take the route to Pichilemu.
Cross the Tinguiririca River and stay onto route I-50 that branches West to Santa Cruz and Pichilemu.
This route will take you through the towns of Nancagua, Cunaco, Santa Cruz and Palmilla. Stay on rout I-50 towards Pichilemu.
Following the town of Palmilla, you will reach the “Antigua Estación de Colchagua” an old train station. Make a right turn onto route Las Condenadas.
Drive for another 2 km, cross the Presidente Errázuriz bridge over the Tinguiririca river; The paved road extends for almost one km more. At the intersection make a left turn. Drive another 600 meters and turn right onto an unpaved road to Caliterra. Continue for approximately 5 km. At the end of the road you will reach Caliterra Estate main entrance.
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