This morning we had a late start — 10:30 a.m. Of course, we were up much earlier than that, so after breakfast we took a walk around the neighborhood, just to enjoy the perfect summer weather before plunging back into the icebox. We were surprised to see so many people walking — obviously to work, by the way they were dressed — after 9 a.m. Bankers’ hours?
The bus drove us about an hour to a place just beyond the Santiago suburbs. Here we visited a very small winery. The vineyards are only a little over an acre, then there is land for the house, the winery itself, a few fruit trees, etc.
A wonderful glass of cold, fresh apricot juice welcomed us to the tastefully appointed winery, and one of the owners (the son of the founder) provided a detailed lecture about the grapes grown here (cabernet and carmenere), how an organic vineyard deals with pests (rented chickens and predator insects), types of fermentation, corks, etc., etc.
Of course, the lecture included generous tastings of various wines paired with traditional Chilean snack foods. Both snacks and wines were excellent. We also walked a bit in the vineyard and tasted the almost-ripe carmenere grapes.
Our host explained that carmenere requires a longer growing season, which is why the wine has gotten a bad reputation. Carmenere grapes grown in France must be harvested before they are ready, and thus make poor wine. But in Chile the grapes can be grown to full ripeness and the wine is very good.
After the tour and lecture we were served lunch — a traditional Chilean “corn pie.” This is a casserole of meats and vegetables topped with a very sweet corn bread. It is baked in a pottery bowl, and quite delicious. Of course, there was wine with the meal.
By mid-afternoon we had returned to the hotel. An Asia-Pacific economic summit is being held here beginning tomorrow. Many representatives are already arriving, so the place is surrounded by uniformed police and not-so-plain-clothes security people are eyeing everyone in the lobby.
We shall miss the summit, however, as we shall soon be off to the airport and on our way home. But we did take time for one more walk around the neighborhood in the 80-degree weather. We have to enjoy it while we can, as the change will be abrupt!
The bus drove us about an hour to a place just beyond the Santiago suburbs. Here we visited a very small winery. The vineyards are only a little over an acre, then there is land for the house, the winery itself, a few fruit trees, etc.
We shall miss the summit, however, as we shall soon be off to the airport and on our way home. But we did take time for one more walk around the neighborhood in the 80-degree weather. We have to enjoy it while we can, as the change will be abrupt!
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