# Tara Chardonnay (2022)

- **Producer:** Viña Ventisquero
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Atacama, Chile
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €37
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apricot, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pastry, biscuit, butter, almond, hazelnut

## About this wine

The Viña Ventisquero Tara Chardonnay 2022 is a white wine from the Atacama DO in Chile, made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. The wine is cultivated in the Atacama Desert, a challenging terroir characterized by saline soils and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, influenced by the cool Camanchaca fog. This extreme environment shapes the wine's distinctive character. Viña Ventisquero, established in 2000, is dedicated to showcasing Chile's varied terroirs, with the Tara project being a prime example of their innovative approach to viticulture in extreme conditions. The project has been recognized for its success in overcoming viticultural challenges.

## Interesting facts

- Grown in the driest desert on Earth.
- Just 15km from the Pacific Ocean.
- Saline soils impart a unique minerality.
- Minimal rainfall, high sunshine hours.

## Food pairing

The wine's vibrant acidity and saline minerality cut through the richness of seafood and oily fish, enhancing their natural flavors. Its brightness complements citrus elements and herbaceous notes often found in lighter dishes.

## Wine making process

The Viña Ventisquero Tara Chardonnay 2022 is produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes. The winemaking process begins with whole cluster pressing, followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks using indigenous yeasts. The wine then undergoes aging for 20 months, with half of the production maturing in concrete eggs and the other half in untoasted oak foudres. Lees stirring (batonnage) is employed to enhance texture and complexity. The vineyard is located in the Huasco Valley, within the Atacama DO, where vines were planted in 2007.