Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesPeppery and fragrant with aromas of chili chocolate, black currants, cherries, hazelnuts and sage. Juicy and soft, with a medium body and fleshy tannins. Drink now.
Taste the pure essence of Chile’s incomparable viticulture. Produced from estate vineyards located across the best appellations to achieve the ultimate expression for each varietal, Root:1 wines are unmatched in quality and taste. Root:1 is especially unique in that the geography of Chile makes it one of the few regions in the world unaffected by phylloxera. Root:1 grapes are grown from ungrafted rootstock, producing wines with intense fruit, flavor and authentic varietal character.
Their vineyards were the first to be certified 100% sustainable by Wines of Chile, and they’re the first winery in the nation to adopt carbon offset measures. By utilizing sustainable techniques to manage vine growth, provide proper irrigation, and honor the unique attributes of each site, they’re guaranteeing not only the quality of their product but also the longevity and health of the land around us and the community that makes their vineyards possible.
Whether it’s forming new relationships or strengthening existing ones, their wines are made to be shared with the ones you love most. Root:1 brings people together to create memorable experiences, no matter the occasion.
The Maipo Valley is Chile’s most famous wine region. Set in the country’s Central Valley, it is warm and quite dry, often necessitating the use of irrigation. Alluvial soils predominate but are supplemented with loam and clay.
The climate in Maipo is best-suited for ripe, full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon (the region’s most widely planted grape), Merlot, Syrah and Carmenère, a Bordeaux variety that has found a successful home in Chile.
White wines are also produced with great prosperity, especially near the cooler coast, include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.