Father and Son Team from Viña Umpel:
At the end of the Salon event, a lucky encounter took place at The Ten Bells, where I had the chance to meet the father-and-son team from Viña Umpel, a winery located in the heart of southern Chile. This moment turned into a delightful discovery as I had the opportunity to taste their wines, and I was particularly impressed by their Agroecológico, which truly stood out for its elegance and authenticity.
Viña Umpel is nestled in Yumbel, in the Bío Bío region of Chile. Founded in 2014, the winery was born out of a desire to restore ancient, abandoned vineyards that were over 120 years old, where País grapevines, in particular, had been left forgotten. Today, the estate spans six hectares of País, two hectares of Carignan, and three hectares of Malbec. The winery practices 100% agroecological management, meaning that no herbicides or chemicals are used, and sulfur is applied only in some parts of production. Their vinification process adheres to the same principles, with no added yeasts or additives, and the wines are aged in wooden lagares before being transferred to barrels or tanks. Additionally, the wines are not filtered, ensuring a pure and natural expression of the terroir.
The winery is located in the Lomas de Secano, a region known for its unique soil and climate, which impart concentrated flavors and organoleptic characteristics to the wines, making them truly singular and personal. The entire winemaking process is done by hand: the harvest is manual, fermentation occurs in old wooden vats, and no additives, colorants, water, or preservatives are used.
For those interested in exploring the wines of Viña Umpel, you can find more information and contact details on their website at www.umpel.cl or reach them via email at contactoumpel@gmail.com.
If you ever find yourself in search of a natural, artisanal wine experience that reflects the essence of Chile's southern terroir, Viña Umpel is certainly worth seeking out.