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Vino Bueno

by Mary Tjotjos

Two organic wineries in Chile

There are so many more organic wines now than ever before, and many of them are quite good. Ritual and Veramonte wines, from Chile, imported by Gonzalez Byass USA, are two of note that have transitioned over to 100 percent organic.

The Ritual Estate is located in the eastern end of Chile’s Casablanca Valley, a cool climate, whose wine profile is influenced by the Pacific Ocean and Humboldt Current. The winemakers compost the soil, sheep contribute to natural fertilization, and the vineyards are surrounded by 6,000 acres of native forest. Winemaker Sofia Araya produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

The Veramonte winery is located in Chile’s Casablanca, and the original vineyards are in a valley that was first planted in the late 1990s. Veramonte expanded into other valleys and brands, with vineyards in the renowned winemaking regions of Casablanca (perfect for whites and cool-climate reds) and Colchagua (warmer and ideal for red varietals). The organic Pinot Noir and Organic Sauvignon Blanc are two of our favorites. gonzalezbyassusa.com

—Rona Berg

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