Rojo Paraíso, País Antiguo, Itata Paraíso Wines 2020

Country: Chile

Region: Valle del Itata

Grape: Pais

Volume: 75cl

ABV: 12.3%

Vintage: 2020

Suitable for Vegans: Yes

Food pairing: Match this amazing wine with roast loin of pork or porchetta and roast fennel.

The Itata Valley, one of Chile’s southernmost wine regions, contains some of the country’s oldest vines as well as exceptionally varied terroir. It’s an area imbued with the old ways, sustainable farming (often organic) and small growers and producers – such as Itata Paraíso.

This third-generation family vineyard is still under the watchful gaze of 93-year-old Abuelo Ramirez-Lavín, who began making wine here in 1952. Yes, they keep it old and keep it in the family here in Itata. The modern-day incarnation of Itata Paraíso began with his grandchildren in 2015, still working only with grapes grown on their small vineyard in Portezuelo, one of Chile’s oldest winemaking areas.

“En Itata Paraíso trabajamos sin enólogo, nosotros simplemente ‘hacemos’ vino sólo con la experiencia de las generaciones pasadas.” They make wine naturally, intuitively, as the generations did who have come before. The heritage varieties of the Itata Valley, Moscatel and País, are to the fore, as well as old-vine Carignan.

This wine delivers the essence of Itata’s heritage and old vines, especially the naturally rustic charm of the

País variety. It is a living, vibrant and incisive wine. The nose is demonstrative of the grape, with a touch of

youthful strawberries and red apples, between some earthy notes. Just 1,700 bottles produced at source.