Download Complete Production Notes

Heritage and enterprise are hallmarks of Santa Rita, one of Chile’s premier wine estates. Founded in 1880 by Domingo Fernandez in Chile’s Maipo Valley, this historic property was among the first to pioneer plantings of European grape varieties in Chile. In 1980, it was acquired by its present owner, Gruppo Claro, under whom Santa Rita has reaped the rewards of continuous investment, resulting in a period of impressive growth, during which the winery has consolidated its position in the vanguard of Chile’s most successful and innovative estates.

Grapes for Santa Rita’s Medalla Real wines are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness from the estate’s best and oldest vines. Intense fruit and a judicious use of French oak result in a complex and concentrated wine that is simultaneously elegant and classical in style.

Production Area
Colchagua lies closer to the low and rolling Coastal Range than to the higher Andes and benefits from the cooling breezes that blow in directly from the sea, effectively extending the growing season for a long, slow ripening period. Marchigüe and Apalta, two select Colchagua Valley terroirs, were chosen to make this exceptional wine. Marchigüe’s shallow granitic-clay soils help the grapes develop tremendous fruit expression and structure. The second vineyard is in the small, much-acclaimed Apalta Valley, whose special conditions such as deep granitic soils and a horseshoe shape that protects its vineyards from the cold coastal winds combine to produce high quality wines. The warm summer days in the 70-year-old vineyards are ideal for growing perfectly ripe Carménère with elegant tannins.

Grape Varieties
100% Carménère

Vinification
Picked in late April, the grapes are destemmed, partially crushed, and cold macerated for 5 days prior to fermentation. The must is inoculated with selected yeasts, and fermentation takes place at 77º–82ºF. Pumpovers are frequent during the first two-thirds of the process and then reduced to half in order to extract all of the potential from the skins. The new wine remains on its skins for another 20 days to develop the well-rounded sweetness that characterizes this wine. The wine is further developed with 10 months of French oak aging.

Color
Deep and intense ruby red

Bouquet
A complex bouquet that combines fresh black fruits and spicy notes with elegantly defined oak to heighten the wine’s chocolate and vanilla characteristics

Taste
A big and flavorful wine that is concentrated and persistent with elegant tannins

Alcohol
14.5%

Serving Suggestions
Delicious with steak, barbecue, venison, game birds, and ripe blue cheeses.