Wine Tours - Chile - Colchagua Valley

Visit to Cono Sur in Chimbarongo

A warm and friendly welcome from winemaker Matias Rios and the staff of Cono Sur. Cono Sur is a pioneer in sustainability and the largest Pinot Noir producer in Chile. Founded in 1993, the name "Cono Sur" refers to its geographical location, specifically the cone shape they believe South America resembles.

A beautiful colonial mansion with all our bikes already parked at the entrance. First, we received a warm welcome in a beautiful garden, where the table was already set for lunch. It started with sparkling wines, empanadas, and ceviche.

• Sparkling Brut, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Fresh and fruity style with aromas of tropical and stone fruit, honey and white flowers

• Sparkling Rosé, 100% Pinot Noir. A juicy sparkling wine with flavors of berries, raspberries, and blueberries. Lunch was delicious, featuring grilled meat from the BBQ: chicken, beef, and a delicious tomato salad with corn. Several unique bottles were on the table. It was a perfect base for the wine tasting and the bike ride at the end of the afternoon.

Some notable Pinot Noir wines during the in-house wine tasting:

• Cono Sur Reserva Especial Pinot Noir, DO Valle De San Antonio 2022. Hand-harvested, 20% stainless steel and 80% wood aged for approximately 11 months. Delightful aromas of plums, forest fruits, red cherries, and sun-ripened raspberries fill the nose. Also notes of vanilla and cherry wood. Pleasant tannins. Acidity 6 g/l and residual sugar 2.6 g/l. Alcohol 14%.

• Cono Sur Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, No. 21 Viento Mar, DO Valle De San Antonio 2022. The grapes come from the same plot, No. 21, Campo Lindo Estate. Viento Mar, meaning "sea breeze," is the highest point of the vineyard, located near the coast. Harvested by hand, aged for one month in stainless steel followed by 11 months in French oak. Sultry tannins and typical Pinot Noir aromas of raspberry, ripe wild strawberries, and red cherries. Also a hint of cedar, vanilla, and jammy notes. Acidity 6.1 g/l and residual sugar 2.0 g/l. Alcohol 14%

• Cono Sur 20 Barrels Pinot Noir Valle De San Antonio/Casablanca 2021. Also hand-harvested, aged for one year in oak and then for two months in stainless steel. The familiar aromas of raspberry, ripe strawberry, and red plum. Even a hint of leather. A beautiful finish with 5.8g/l of acidity and 2.4g/l of residual sugar. Alcohol is 14.5%.

• Cono Sur Ocio Pinot Noir, Valle de Casablanca 2020. These grapes are certainly also harvested by hand, fully matured in oak for approximately 14 months. Delightful aromas of red plum and red cherry burst forth on the nose, along with hints of dark chocolate or cocoa and vanilla. Ripe tannins. Acidity 5.8 g/l. Alcohol 14.5%. After this impressive tasting and presentation, we cycled through the vineyard.