Terroir Quebrada Seca

The name “Quebrada Seca” or “Dry Cliff” corresponds to the specific geographical area where the vineyard is located. The main region is known as the Limarí Valley, and is about 400 km north of Santiago, near the town of Ovalle. The De Martino vineyards specialise in the “Terroir Wines”, wines which have a unique and recognisable personality, resulting from the interaction of the vines with their environment.

Formerly, the best renowned growing area was the Casablanca Valley, however the wines from there do not have the mineral nose or the fresh mouth that Limari Valley wines produce.

Geology and Soils

The soil formation began in the quaternary (1.6mill. years ago) and completed its formation to the structure we now see, 12 thousands years ago. Limarí Valley soils are alluvial, having being formed by a river. In this area you will find many volcanic rocks, easily recognisable by their round shape, created from travelling long distances in the river. Over time, the river has changed position and left different layers or terraces, similar to those in Medoc, France and Marlborough, New Zealand.

In isolated areas Calcium Carbonates are present. These carbonates have been created through oceanic marine deposits. This feature differentiates the Limari Valley from other areas. It is important to recognise that millions of years ago the entire region was under water, which is why we now find these marines deposits, even in the Andes Mountains. The flow of the river has been responsible for spreading all this deposits through the valley. This combination of factors gives the wine its unique mineral notes in the mouth, almost a sense of salinity. Furthermore, with the top layers of soil being clay, the wine has increased its depth of flavour and developed a smooth, creamy texture.

Climate

Due to very low rainfalls, averaging only 100mm per year, and their occurrence during winter months, irrigation systems are used in the vineyards, with an abundant supply of clean, crisp fresh water available from the Andes Mountains. With its average temperatures in the warmest months reaching to 27º, and in being geographically located 22 km in a straight line from the Pacific Ocean, the cold water of the Humbolt current that runs along the coast of Chile influences the area.

This current produces cold sea breezes that blow into the valley. However, between the sea and the vineyards are the hills of Talinay in the Fray Jorge National Park, a very important geographical factor, as the hills create a buffer effect, trapping and holding the humidity of the marine breeze, preventing the moisture from continuing inland. It is for this reason that the region never gets problems with Botrytis.

The Limari Valley has high sun radiation, with most of the days being very clear, and for this reason the direction that the vineyard faces is very important. The best direction for the vineyard to face is to be orientated parallel to the path of the sun from sunrise to sunset, so that the direction of light is consistently directly above the vines. In this way we avoid the fruit being sunburnt because it is always protected by the leaves. To understand this phenomenon and to be as accurate as possible we recommend tracking this pattern in January.

This is very important because it is well known that a north- south exposure for the vineyard causes Chardonnay vines to get sunburnt fruit, which in turn develops into flat wine with heavy aromas.

Tasting Notes

The Chardonnay Single Vineyard “Quebrada Seca” is a very fresh wine, with tropical aromas such as papaya, a natural crispy acidity, a smooth creamy texture, and distinctive mineral notes. The barrel is used very carefully in the production process, adding a complexity of flavour to the wine, however, the fruit is always first.

# Most information sourced from Eduardo Jordan, Winemaker of De Martino Vineyards.