Chakana Atorrante Malbec, Mendoza

Description

Chakana Atorrante Malbec is the entry point wine to Chakana’s excellent range of Malbec wines. It is the new name for what was previously labelled as “Chakana Malbec”.

Chakana was founded in 2002 by the Pelizzatti family, something of a return to wine-making for the family whose ancestors had made wines in the wine-growing region of Valtellina in Italy in the 19th Century. The Chakana winery is located Agrelo, Mendoza and since 2002 the estate has grown to cover some 150 hectares with 120 hectares under vine, including their own vineyards in other areas of Mendoza 21 hectares in Mayor Drummond (Lujan de Cuyo) and two vineyards comprising 51 hectares in Altamira (Valle de Uco).

In 2012 Chakana began converting all of their vineyards, farming and viticultural methods over to organic and biodynamic production. Chakana were successfully awarded Demeter International Biodynamic certification in 2016. Chakana is one of only 9 Demeter-certified wineries in Argentina and it is the leading biodynamic producer in terms of certified vineyard area (80 hectares). Chakana believe that “wine is born in the vineyard” and the winemaking style is based on minimal intervention. There is minimal use of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and other additives and only indigenous yeasts (non-GMO) are used.

Chakana Atorrante Malbec is made from 100% Malbec sourced from a selection of Chakana’s vineyards (in Agrelo and Paraje Altamira) with some bought-in fruit, The vineyards are located at altitudes of between 700 to 1100m and are planted on deep sand and loam soils. The wine is vinified traditionally and matured in a combination of concrete, stainless steel and used oak barrels.

Chakana Atorrante Malbec is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

What is The Chakana?

The Chakana or Inca Cross is a stepped cross representing the four cardinal points of the compass and the Southern Cross constellation which ruled the Incan agricultural calendar. It can be found in many patterns and decorations in textiles and ceramics.