Casa Marin, Chile
This is a lady who doesn't take 'no' for an answer and has a career littered with great achievements and numerous firsts. Maria Luz's vision and determination to coax world class wines from these coastal vineyards has proved Chile is capable of producing wine that can take on the world's best.
Viticulture
Viña Casa Marín has always respected the surrounding land and has worked in a natural, harmonious way with the environment. With this in mind, the winery has always invested in three areas they feel are most important: social, environmental and economic. Since the beginning in 2000, it has instilled the focus on clean and respectful production throughout the company. Their approach in the vineyard is to use only 'green' products. 80% of the 46 hectares of vineyard is located on hills including some steep hill slopes. The vineyard is divided in 63 blocks reflecting the differences in soil, sun exposure, temperature and exposure to the wind.
Winemaking
All grapes are harvested by hand then after selection the must is vinified in small individual tanks. The winery is equipped with the latest technology to optimise the individual characteristics in the grapes from each block. The fermentation cellar maintains a natural and stable 9 degrees Celsius allowing for a cool fermentation. The cellar is equipped with small tanks mostly 1000, 2000 and 3000L enabling them when possible to ferment block by block.
- Use of wind turbine for renewable energy, use of vine shoots as fertiliser, use of geoglass (recycled glass)
- Provides people from the village and surroundings a stable income and work. One third of the workers still working at Casa Marin, helped plant the first vines in 2000.
- Encourages and organises group social activities, closes early on Fridays, practices yoga before the work day and participates in building homes and working together with schools and the police force.
