[Agyeong Wine Cellar] Capturing the Terroir of the Pristine Andes in the Constellations

<5> Chile 'San Pedro GVSP'

San Pedro's Premium Brand Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Chilean Fine Wine Capturing the Pure Nature of the Andes
'2021 Vintage' Embraces Both Intensity and Elegance

Editor's NoteNo two wines under the sky are the same. Even when using grapes grown on the same land each year and employing the same methods of winemaking and aging, the results differ every time. Wine is a 'drink of chance' created through the harmony of humans and nature. Each wine, which silently disappears after leaving only a single intense memory, carries an intriguing story. 'Akyung Wine Cellar' shares these stories of wines, each crafted and matured under different circumstances, one by one.

San Pedro is a winery established in 1865 in Chile's Curico Valley by the Correa Albano brothers. It is well-known domestically as the producer of the '1865' wine, named to commemorate its founding year. San Pedro's premium wine brand, GVSP (Grandes Vinos de San Pedro), is a fine wine winery opened in 2001 in the Cachapoal Valley region, aiming to create iconic, high-quality wines that represent Chile, going beyond light and casual wines.

Gabriel Mustakis, GVSP's head winemaker, who recently visited Korea, emphasized that their goal is to capture the essence of the terroir?the total natural environment surrounding the vineyards?of Cachapoal Andes in their wines.

A panoramic view of the GVSP vineyard located in the Cachapoal Andes, Chile.

The Winery Closest to the Pristine Andes

The Cachapoal Valley in central Chile is a Mediterranean climate wine region located between the Andes Mountains to the east and the Coastal Mountains to the west. The Coastal Mountains block the cold sea breeze from the Pacific Ocean, making the area hot with summer temperatures rising above 30 degrees Celsius. Because of this heat, the best vineyards in the region are mainly situated on the slopes of the Andes Mountains to the east, avoiding the high temperatures.

The Cachapoal Andes, which GVSP has tirelessly worked to express in their wines, is the area adjacent to the eastern Andes Mountains. The high altitude and cooling winds from the Andes create an environment where grapes can ripen in relatively cool conditions despite abundant sunlight. Mustakis emphasized, "GVSP is the winery closest to the Andes," adding, "Since the vineyards directly border the Andes and greatly influence the grapes and wine, the term 'Cachapoal Andes' more accurately describes the terroir than just 'Cachapoal Valley.'"

Gabriel Mustakis GVSP Head Winemaker

When GVSP was first launched, it operated as a joint venture with the French Bordeaux grand cru winery Chateau Dassault. Aiming for high-quality wines, they began producing Chilean wines using traditional French winemaking techniques, establishing their position as a premium wine with a classic character.

After Chateau Dassault divested all its shares in 2007, GVSP began independent operations and adopted more innovative winemaking methods to find their unique style. A representative change was reducing the use of new oak barrels for aging from 100% to half, using the rest with used oak barrels to emphasize the natural flavor of the grapes, marking a shift to a more modern style.

The Cachapoal Andes in Chile, where GVSP is established.

Subsequently, they focused on deepening their understanding of terroir. They strengthened research on soil by zones and devoted efforts to exploring viticulture and winemaking methods that maximize the geographical advantages of the Cachapoal region. Based on this enhanced understanding of terroir, after Mustakis joined in 2018, they continued innovating by applying techniques such as early harvesting, gentle pressing, and low-temperature fermentation to best showcase the terroir's charm in their wine production.

Mustakis evaluated the 2021 vintage, GVSP's twentieth, as a year cooler than average, allowing grapes to ripen fully on the vine and resulting in wines with excellent aging potential. He said, "Winter precipitation increased compared to the previous year, and the soil's moisture capacity rose as buds began to sprout, enabling uniform grape growth throughout the seasons," adding, "The 2021 vintage, presented on our 20th anniversary, produced wines with outstanding polyphenol concentration and excellent fruit expression, resulting in powerful yet elegant wines," expressing pride.

Altair, the Brightest Star Reflecting Innovative Winemaking

GVSP produces three wines in Cachapoal Andes: Sideral, Altair, and Cabo De Hornos, all based on Cabernet Sauvignon. Among these, Altair, GVSP's iconic wine, is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Mustakis explained, "Named after Altair, the main star of the Aquila constellation, this wine is made from grapes grown in the vineyard with the best sunlight exposure among GVSP's vineyards."

Various aging aids used by GVSP for wine maturation. (From left) Granite Egg, Galileo, Amphora.

Altair incorporates various innovative winemaking techniques from GVSP. During winemaking and aging, GVSP uses vats of different materials depending on the grape variety to bring out the optimal character. For Altair, 70% of the total must is aged in 225L and 300L French oak barrels, 25% in foudres (large oak barrels), and the remaining 5% in a concrete aging vessel called 'Galileo.'

Galileo is a spherical concrete aging device, first introduced in Chile by GVSP. Mustakis explained, "Unlike commonly used oak barrels that allow oxygen exposure during aging, wine aged in Galileo is matured in a completely oxygen-free environment," adding, "During the winemaker's rotation of the Galileo, the lees (dead yeast sediment remaining after fermentation) continuously contact the wine, helping create a smoother texture." The wines aged in different vessels for 16 months are then blended and undergo an additional 6 months of aging before completion. The wine harmonizes intense aromas of cherries and other red berries with subtle nuances from the oak barrels and has aging potential exceeding 20 years.

Wines of GVSP. (From left) 'Sideral', 'Altair', 'Cabo De Hornos'

Alongside Altair, Sideral represents GVSP's foundational wine but also most accurately reflects the winery's philosophy and characteristics. The name Sideral, meaning 'constellation' in Spanish, is a blend of all grape varieties cultivated by GVSP, centered on Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah, Carmenere, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.

Mustakis said, "We describe GVSP's wines as 'constellation wines,' which is not just a metaphor," explaining, "Just as various stars form a constellation representing cosmic balance, Sideral blends grapes from diverse vineyards to embody the balance of nature we can present." He added, "As the guardian of every process from grape to wine, I have meticulously managed all stages based on experience and technology," and urged, "I hope you experience the excellence of Chilean wine through GVSP wines that fully capture the terroir of the Andes."