# Aupa Pipeño (2024)

- **Producer:** Viña Maitia
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** 80% País, 20% Carignan
- **Region:** Maule Valley, Chile
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €14
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 12–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** raspberry, strawberry, cherry, rose, mint, fennel, thyme, oregano, leather, earth

## About this wine

Aupa Pipeño by Viña Maitia is a red wine from the Maule Valley, Chile, primarily made from 80% País and 20% Carignan grapes. The fruit is sourced from the Loncomilla area, known for its ancient, dry-farmed bush vines. Viña Maitia, led by winemaker David Marcel, is dedicated to reviving and bottling the traditional Chilean Pipeño style, a rustic wine historically made for local consumption. The producer's philosophy centers on minimal intervention, allowing the old-vine fruit and terroir to express themselves. This wine is a significant part of a movement to preserve Chile's heritage viticulture.

## Interesting facts

- Made from País vines planted as early as the 1870s.
- A revival of the historic 'Pipeño' style, traditionally made by farmers.
- Fermented with native yeasts in cement tanks.
- Available in both bottles and convenient 250ml cans.

## Food pairing

The wine's bright acidity and light tannins make it incredibly versatile. It cuts through richer dishes like grilled meats and pork, while its fruit-forward character complements tomato-based sauces and herbs.

## Wine making process

Aupa Pipeño is made using traditional methods. The hand-harvested grapes are fermented with native yeasts in cement tanks for about five days. To enhance fruitiness, half of the País grapes undergo carbonic maceration, while the Carignan is fermented with whole clusters. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for approximately five months in cement vats, with no oak influence. This process emphasizes the purity of the fruit and the unique character of the old vines.