Miguel Torres La Causa Pais

Description

Miguel Torres La Causa Pais is a red wine made from 100% Pais grapes sourced from Chile’s Valle del Itata in the Secano Interior.

Familia Torres Wines first acquired a small winery in Curicó, in the Chilean Central Valley, in 1979. It was the first foreign company to back Chilean vineyard production. After almost thirty years, those original 100 hectares have turned into 445 hectares of vineyards owned by the company itself. The excellent climate conditions for cultivating grape vines, with great temperature differences between night and day and lands free of grape phylloxera, have contributed to the fact that sublime wines are being made in lands from where one can view the greatness of the Andes, crowned by snow and noble beauty. As of 2010, Miguel Torres Chile is directed by Miguel Torres Maczassek, a fifth-generation Torres winemaker who moved to Chile with his family to maintain the tradition and passion for winemaking that the Torres family has demonstrated for over a hundred years.

The grapes for the Miguel Torres La Causa Pais come from old vines in Ranquil, Valle del Itata, a wine region in the South of Chile in the Secano Interior. After harvest the grapes undergo a period of maceration for 11 days. The wine then undergoes alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel with 25% whole bunch and native yeasts. This is followed by malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged for 4 months in old French oak barrels.

Miguel Torres La Causa Pais is suitable for vegans and vegetarians and is also Fairtrade / Fair For Life.

What is the history and origin of the Pais grape?

The Pais grape variety is an ancient grape variety that was originally taken to South America by the Spanish Conquistadores over 500 years ago. In Spain, this variety was known as Listan Negro and later became known as Crioll0 Chica or Mission in North America, before finally being named Pais in Chile. Pais remained popular in Chile until the mid-nineteenth century when French grape varieties became prevalent.

A lot of Pais was grubbed up over the years but, even so, some 15,000 hectares remain planted. Until recently it had principally been used to make cheap wine for local consumption. However; thanks to Miguel Torres Chile, Pais is now undergoing a revival as a great grape variety for producing sparkling rosé and now this red wine.