Ritual Vineyards

Ritual Pinot Noir - 2016 - Sofia Araya

Chile

ARAYA Sofia

100% Pinot Noir, from vines farmed organically and planted less than 30 km from the Pacific Ocean, on the Chilean Coast Range. Planted on decomposed granite soil, the vineyards have natural grassing between the rows, a cold climate, are well drained, and are fertilised by the presence of a flock of sheep. The grapes are picked by hand in the early morning, with careful sorting in the vineyard and in the cellar. Vinification: whole bunches of grapes, a 5-day cold pre-fermentation maceration in open-topped stainless steel vats, with indigenous yeasts, followed by the end of fermentation and 11 months maturation in French oak barrels, 20% of which are new.

Sofia Araya is the head of vinification at Ritual Vineyards and Veramonte Winery, two estates that share common values. Already as a little girl growing up in the Chilean countryside, the vineyards that surrounded her grandfather’s fields had fascinated her, leading her to study oenology at the University of Chile in Santiago. After several experiences at large estates, she joined the Veramonte and Rituals team in 2009. It was a milestone year for the estates, marking the beginning of the conversion to organic farming on all the vineyard parcels at both sites. Supported by José Aguirre in the cultivation of the vines, Sofia is committed to seeing their vineyards managed in the most responsible and ecological way possible, convinced that a deep understanding of her soils is not only important for the earth, but is the key to creating wines that truly express their terroir, or as she would call them, single vineyard cuvées "con sentido de lugar" – with a sense of place.

75 cl

Degree of alcohol : 13,5 %

To drink from : 2021 to 2024

Country : Chile

€15.60