A unique design, the architecture of the wine cellar is shaped like a horseshoe, symbolizing the passion for purebred horses. As it is located on the hillside, the different fermentation vessels have a marked unevenness that allows the grapes and musts to be processed by gravity, limiting the use of water pumps and other equipment. This technique substantially prevents the risks of oxidation and it is softer on the tannins and helps protect the wine’s aromas and flavors.
SUSTAINABILITY
Haras de Pirque strongly believes in the fundamentals of sustainability as one of the core values of the estate, both for the environment and for social responsibility.
For this reason, several projects have been developed aimed to achieve a sustainable and responsible production activity within the community, such as the organic farming of the vineyards, measuring carbon footprint and energy efficiency programs, promoting training and professional development of the workers, and marking labor and work security as one of the top priorities.
The estate is committed to a long-term vision that seeks to improve the quality oriented production standards, in a socially responsible environment for its workers and sustainable practices for the territory.
THE REGION
The property is located in Pirque, central area of the country, one of the most prestigious and recognized areas of the Maipo Valley for the planting of vineyards, at the foot of the Andes Mountains. The Maipo Alto area is between 500 and 800 meters above sea level, an area with a temperate thermal expansion with native vegetation of myrtle and boldos that on certain occasions give the wines balsamic characteristics.
Thus the wines produced in this area contain a high concentration of tannins, great structure and intense color.
THE TERROIR
The vineyards are located south of the Maipo River, between 550 and 660 meters above sea level, in the northern foothills of the Andes. The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean, highly influenced by the proximity of the mountain range and the Pacific Ocean anticyclone that rises through the open valley, thus providing specific characteristics to this enclave that allow the interaction of unique climatic factors. Rains have a marked seasonality and are mainly concentrated between the months of June and August. The position of the vineyards and the prominence of the land determine a difference of over 20°C in temperature between day and night. The great temperature swings favor a slow ripening and, as a consequence, excellent quality of the grapes. The soil in which the vineyards are planted is of alluvial origin: its formation is caused by the volcanic eruption in the area, which explains why there is a great variability in the soil textures and structures, clay being the most predominant.
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE VINEYARDS
All the vines are conducted in vertical trellis (Vertical Shoot Position or VSP), a system that provides a better distribution of foliage and load, good ventilation, sunlight reception and the right comfort needed to carry out various operations during the growing season. After the harvest, which in Haras de Pirque generally ends in mid-May, the pruning period starts to obtain the proper distribution of the clusters on the vine. Along with efficient irrigation technology and appropriate use of organic fertilizers, the canopy management starts in October to ensure the optimal quality during harvest. In order to enhance the attention to even the smallest details, in Haras the Pirque the harvest is conducted by hand. That means that the grapes arrive in the cellar in perfect condition in order to be immediately processed, preserving all their quality potential.
ORGANIC FARMING
In 2006, the property started to develop the organic management of Maipo-Andes vineyards, which was completed in 2016. Today all the grapes and wines from Pirque are organic, certified by the CERES institute, which means that in their production process only environmentally-friendly products are being used. The soil management is carried out exclusively by machine without the use of herbicides, while fertilization is made with natural compounds such as compost. In turn, the wines are fermented partially with natural yeasts selected from the vineyard, making sure that the characteristics of its surroundings are reflected in the wines.