SPANISH
27 Sep The valleys of Morandé Pionero
Pionero reflects the innovative and experimental spirit that has always mobilized the winery. With these wines, the Casablanca and Maule valleys show their full potential in their varietals, where the expression of the fruit is undoubtedly the main protagonist.
Respect for the terroir, the constant focus on innovation and the production of high-quality wines are transversal pillars at Viña Morandé. Since its beginnings, the winery has sought to create wines that reflect the dynamic and adventurous spirit that characterizes us, in addition to being able to show the best expression of the terroirs where we are present.
One of our most emblematic lines is Pionero, which symbolizes the constant exploration of new lands, mixtures and styles that Viña Morandé has had since its inception. For us, these wines reflect the potential of the varietals that we have in the Casablanca and Maule valleys, where the expression of the fruit is the one who steals the movie.
Internationally recognized for being one of the most outstanding terroirs in our country, the Casablanca Valley is nestled between the Coastal Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean, about 80 km from Santiago, in central Chile. Its status as a “cold climate valley” has given it excellent recognition, which translates into ideal conditions for growing red varieties such as Pinot Noir and Syrah and white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
With soils of granitic origin, poor in organic matter and good drainage, and a coastal climate with cool sea breezes and early morning mists, the Casablanca Valley was planted for the first time exactly 40 years ago, when our founder Pablo Morandé saw the incredible potential of the area and decided to plant the first Sauvignon Blanc vines. Since then, the success and recognition of the valley has been on the rise and today it is a valley that is renewing itself, both in its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir viticultural material with new clones and rootstocks, as well as developing promising mid-cycle red wines. maturation, such as Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Our Pioneer Pinot Noir is from this area, a wine that stands out for its delicacy and fresh notes of red fruits.
For its part, the Maule Valley is the largest wine region in Chile and is also the one with the most diversity in geographic and climatic terms. Currently, it has more than 50,000 hectares planted with viniferous vines, of which 74% correspond to red vines and 26% to white vines.
The climate of this area is mainly Mediterranean, with a great influence of cold wind coming from the Andes Mountain, which increases the daily thermal oscillation and reduces the period of maximum temperatures, helping the fruit to ripen in good conditions. Its soils are mainly of granitic origin in the so-called Secano Interior and Secano Costero, formed by the decomposition of granite rocks over millions of years.
Morandé also has vineyards in an area closer to the Andes Mountain, where the soils are alluvial-colluvial and there is a lot of clay. This, plus the temperatures in this area, which are more moderate due to the altitude, have allowed the vineyard to develop an important variety of white and red grapes.
Most of the Pionero wines come from the Maule Valley. From here is our Cabernet Sauvignon, which stands out for its notes of black fruit and good structure; our Carménère, which is spicy and medium-bodied; and our Merlot, which is a fruity, juicy wine with fine tannins.
On the white grapes side, Maule also comes from Pionero Sauvignon Blanc, a creamy wine with significant volume on the palate and a balanced body, and Pionero Chardonnay, a wine with a citrus character, with notes of pear, green apple and fresh pineapple, in addition to a medium, balanced body and good persistence, completing a large portfolio of wines that seek the best varietal expression in each origin.
