SOUTH AMERICA

The Spanish pursuing an expansionist policy arrived in the continent in the C16th. The conquistadores were more interested in gold and silver than viticulture but the Christian missionaries who followed them planted vines. Because the Spanish feared competition with their own wine industry, these vineyards were restricted to producing wines (particularly sacramental wine) for the missions until about 1820-1830 when the colonies seceded from the Spanish Empire. Local wine industries then began to establish themselves.

Argentina

Chile

With a long ripening season, prevailing onshore winds from the Pacific Ocean and an almost unlimited supply of irrigation water from the melting snows of the Andes, Chile has a good climate for growing grapes. With considerable range of latitude, altitude, It is highly variable in terms of temperature and rainfall so it should be possible to find the right microclimate for many different grape varieties. The Andes mountains to the east and desert to the north have also protected Chile from the spread of phylloxera. During the 1980s Chile began to export more of its wines when the quality (particularly of the reds) improved markedly due to investment in modern winemaking technology, such as temperature controlled stainless steel vats and the introduction of new oak barriques. However, there proved to be an identity crisis in Chile's vineyards. Many of the vines planted were not actually what they claimed to be on wine labels - "Merlot" was just as likely to be Carmenère, a different Bordeaux grape variety, while all but 12% of "Sauvignon Blanc" plantings proved to be either Tocai Friuliani or Sauvignonasse. The Central Valley Viticultural Region contains four wine districts and secen wine areas. The Colchagua Valley lies within the Rapel Valley Viticultural Region.

Casa Donoso

The Casa Donoso Vineyard belonged to the Donoso family estate for generations until 1989 when a group of French wine enthusiasts, Société Anonyme Les Vignobles o SALVE S.A., acquired the property. The oldest vines on this vineyard date back to 1905.

The principal partners are: Robert Wan, who is the largest producer of black pearls in the world and creator of the only black pearl museum in French Polynesia; Louis Wane, owner of a chain of luxury hotels in French Polynesia; and Michel Paoletti, Minister of Economic Development for the Polynesian government. All these distinguished business men are residents of French Polynesia.

With a vision for creating fine wines of quality, the old wine cellars were renovated by introducing the highest available wine-making technology. The vineyards are planted right in the heart of the Maule Valley with its rich soil and rolling hills. This setting enjoys an ideal climate, and together with grapevines that have been cultivated for decades yields a high-quality production of very concentrated fruits, and finally wines with plenty of body. Today, Casa Donoso Vineyard oversees 300 hectares of vineyard plantations.

Bin No	Description	Bottle £
	Argentina
	White
AR4306	Antis Chardonnay Andean Wineries Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza 75cl	5.40
	Pale golden colour. The bouquet shows attractive peach, melon and citrus fruit characters. It is medium bodied, well balanced with citrus and pineapple flavours with good length.
AR4622	Finca Vieja Torrontes / Chardonnay, Mendoza 75cl	5.30
	Pale yellow wine with an attractive fragrant nose of citrus and honey. A fresh, fruity palate, not too dry with a pleasant after taste
AR4118	Pascual Toso Sauvignon Blanc Las Barrancas Maipu Mendoza 75cl	5.95
	Quite rich New World style with pink grapefruit, zesty lemon and green fig fruit flavours and a full-bodied almost sweet finish from ripe fruit. Enjoy with pasta, seafood, white meat, salads and vegetarian dishes.
AR4019	Toso Brut Sparkling NV 75cl	12.60
	Chardonnay Chenin Blanc with a fine mousse and delicate creamy flavours from one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in Argentina
	Red
AR4115	Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon Las Barrancas, Maipu Mendoza 75cl	8.30
	Rich layers of coffee, cedar, vanilla and cassis, with dark chocolate and judicious toast on the finish, give great personality to this wine from a premium area in Mendoza.
AR4117	Pascual Toso Malbec Las Barrancas, Maipu Mendoza 75cl	8.30
	Medium-bodied, with hints of coffee, violets and blackberry on the nose, soft rich spicy fruit and smoky vanilla on the finish. The black Malbec grape, characteristic of the area round Cahors in south-western France, also thrives in Argentina.
	Chile
	White
CL4124	Casa Donoso Sauvignon Blanc, Maule Valley 75cl	6.60
	Elegant, with crisp clean herbaceous gooseberry and grapefruit flavours, a pleasant light nose with a hint of elderflower and lingering dry finish.
CL3614	Cousino Macul Doña Isidora Riesling 75cl	7.75
	Attractive floral and mineral aromas, apricot, peach and orange marmalade fruit and fresh clean acidity.
CL4459	Cousiño Macul Sauvignon Gris Maipo Valley 75cl	8.35
	Intense aromas of wild flowers and citrus fruits. In the mouth it has a rich texture with balanced acidity and a considerable length. A rare grape variety that originated from the Graves region of Bordeaux
CL4275	Cumbres Andinas Chardonnay Butron Budinich Winery Cachapoal Valley 75cl	7.25
	Delightful tropical fruit aromas with intriguing hints of peach, full fleshy textures and rich ripe flavours on the palate balanced by delicate oak and underpinning acidity. Very versatile with food - fish, cooked seafood and pasta, lobster, poultry and lighter pork and veal dishes. Hand harvested, with 30% aged in French oak.
CL4276	Cumbres Andinas Sauvignon Blanc Butron Budinich Winery Cahcapoal Valley 75cl	6.75
	Citrus fruit aromas with floral notes and full flavours balanced by an artractive mineral element and long finish. Ideal with fresh fish and seafoods in mild sauces or just to drink on its own with friends.
CL4594	Santiago Sauvignon Blanc, Central Valley 75cl	6.40
	Pear, peach and delicious hints of citrus aromas. On the palate is fresh, crispy and flavourful, well balanced and with an excellent structure
CL4594	Santiago Sauvignon Blanc, Central Valley 0cl	0.00
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CL4432	Ventisquero Chardonnay Clasico, Rappel 75cl	6.90
	Pale yellow with hints of green. Fresh tropical fruit flavours and intense aromas of pineapple and white peach. Medium body, fresh palate and long finish
CL4430	Ventisquero Chardonnay Reserva, Casablanca 75cl	7.90
	An intense golden yellow Chardonnay with tropical fruit aromas. Hints of apricots and peaches on the palate, a well balanced acidity with a long, citrus finish.
CL4625	Volandas Chardonnay, Chile 75cl	5.25
	Fruity, gentle, elegant white wine with aromas of melon and grapefruits
CL4628	Volandas Sauvignon Blanc, Central Valley 75cl	5.25
	Classic dry Sauvignon, with attractive bouquet and delicate flavours of gooseberries, nettles and grass, with a hint of citrus.
	Rosé
CL4639	Volandas Merlot Rosé 75cl	5.25
	This full flavoured rosé wine is produced from Merlot grapes grown in Chile's Central Valley. This un-oaked wine is delicious, with a fresh fruity palate and crisp finish.
	Red
CL4630	Carmenere Lomas Carrera 75cl	5.65
	Dark purple plum colour with a ripe and concentrated blackberry fruit aroma, gives a delicious mouth filling, juicy, dry red wine
CL4125	Casa Donoso Cabernet Sauvignon, Maule Valley 75cl	6.00
	Medium-bodied - lovely red berry nose with hints of red pepper and vanilla, ripe dark berry, raspberry and plum flavours, nicely structured with supple tannins.
CL4611	Casa Viva Pinot Noir, Central Valley 75cl	8.70
	Ruby red with a garne hue, elegant raspberry and blackcurrant aromas with a touch of smoky oak. Good fruit flavours of plum, berries and violet, balanced by a firm acidity, crispness and a lingering finish
CL4277	Cumbres Andinas Merlot Butron Budinich Winery Cachapoal Valley 75cl	7.25
	Elegant, medium to full bodied with expressiive cherry. strawberry and red fruit aromas, excellent flavour concentration, soft tannins and delicate hint of oak. Good on its own or with chicken, pate, soft cheeses and pastas. 30% matured in French oak.
CL4592	Santiago Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley 75cl	6.40
	Bright ruby red colour, rich berry aromas with soft layers of sweet spices and a strong prevalence of fruit over a touch of oak. Full-bodied, with a good structure and a lingering finish.
CL4593	Santiago Merlot, Central Valley 75cl	6.40
	Elegant fruitiness with red berries and spicy pepper aroma, ripe plum and prune flavours. Supple and clean, this wine has round and soft tannins and a delicious velvety texture.
CL4431	Ventisquero Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Maipo 75cl	7.90
	A deep cherry with blue hints. A fruity character dominated by mature red fruits, raspberry and cranberry, with notes of vanilla, cinnamon and some soft smoky notes that come from its barrel ageing.
CL4627	Volandas Merlot, Central Valley 75cl	5.25
	Very easy drinking, soft round and plumy. Excellent ripe damson and red fruit flavours, with attractive mouth-feel and finish.
	V = vegetarian VG = suitable for vegans *Back to top*