Climate, Hard Work Produce Unusual Wines in Chile's Desert
2022-05-31
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1Extreme temperatures, intense desert sun and the height of the land give grapes grown in Chile's Atacama Desert a thick skin.
2Local farmers from the world's driest desert say that gives wine made from the grapes a rich, strong taste.
3The grape growing area is 3,600 meters above sea level in between mountains with few plants.
4The grapes from Caracoles vineyard withstand severe hot and cold weather.
5Sixty-seven-year-old Cecilia Cruz has managed the vineyard for the last six years.
6She is used to the desert's severe conditions.
7"For me it is not difficult because I'm raised on the land," Cruz said.
8"This is the future for my children also for later, when I am not here, for them. I am very proud."
9Native Atacama people like Cruz have grown other crops for a long time.
10They have tried different ways to learn how to make wines on the high land.
11Cruz is one of 18 producers that form part of the Lickanantay Farmer Cooperative which makes the wine, called Allyu.
12The group produces about 12,500 bottles of Allyu each year.
13The wine has received international awards.
14The vineyards that produce the wine are close to the town of San Pedro de Atacama which is popular with visitors.
15But Cruz said there are still some difficulties with growing grapes.
16She thinks an expert in wine growing, that is, an oenologist, could help by visiting the vineyard.
17But Allyu's own expert, Fabian Munoz, says other problems, like the intense sun, have really been helpful by making the wine unusual.
18Munoz said the strong sun and cold nights make the grapes' skin thicker.
19The climate also gives the wine an interesting smell.
20Some wine lovers say they can taste the soil and surroundings in which grapes grew before they were made into wine.
21Munoz said the Atacama wines hold onto those qualities well.
22Munoz said: "One of the identities of our wines is that they express the place (of origin) very well.
23We don't want to lose the essence of that salt taste, that desert taste, that volcanic rock taste, and the grape's flavors, which are distinctive."
24He added that he wants the wine drinker to taste the different wines and say,
25'Wow, I'm tasting the Atacama Desert.'
26The owner of Bosque Viejo Vineyard, Hector Espindola, said it is very hard to make wine in the highlands.
27He added that it is not the kind of work everyone enjoys.
28"The young people don't want to work in agriculture; they want to do something else.
29We are working in agriculture, and we are going to continue as long as we can, every day with more effort and dedication," Espindola said.
30I'm Jill Robbins.
1Extreme temperatures, intense desert sun and the height of the land give grapes grown in Chile's Atacama Desert a thick skin. 2Local farmers from the world's driest desert say that gives wine made from the grapes a rich, strong taste. 3The grape growing area is 3,600 meters above sea level in between mountains with few plants. The grapes from Caracoles vineyard withstand severe hot and cold weather. 4Sixty-seven-year-old Cecilia Cruz has managed the vineyard for the last six years. She is used to the desert's severe conditions. 5"For me it is not difficult because I'm raised on the land," Cruz said. "This is the future for my children also for later, when I am not here, for them. I am very proud." 6Native Atacama people like Cruz have grown other crops for a long time. They have tried different ways to learn how to make wines on the high land. Cruz is one of 18 producers that form part of the Lickanantay Farmer Cooperative which makes the wine, called Allyu. 7The group produces about 12,500 bottles of Allyu each year. The wine has received international awards. The vineyards that produce the wine are close to the town of San Pedro de Atacama which is popular with visitors. 8But Cruz said there are still some difficulties with growing grapes. She thinks an expert in wine growing, that is, an oenologist, could help by visiting the vineyard. But Allyu's own expert, Fabian Munoz, says other problems, like the intense sun, have really been helpful by making the wine unusual. 9Munoz said the strong sun and cold nights make the grapes' skin thicker. The climate also gives the wine an interesting smell. 10The taste of the desert 11Some wine lovers say they can taste the soil and surroundings in which grapes grew before they were made into wine. Munoz said the Atacama wines hold onto those qualities well. 12Munoz said: "One of the identities of our wines is that they express the place (of origin) very well. We don't want to lose the essence of that salt taste, that desert taste, that volcanic rock taste, and the grape's flavors, which are distinctive." He added that he wants the wine drinker to taste the different wines and say, 'Wow, I'm tasting the Atacama Desert.' 13The owner of Bosque Viejo Vineyard, Hector Espindola, said it is very hard to make wine in the highlands. He added that it is not the kind of work everyone enjoys. 14"The young people don't want to work in agriculture; they want to do something else. We are working in agriculture, and we are going to continue as long as we can, every day with more effort and dedication," Espindola said. 15I'm Jill Robbins. 16Rodrigo Gutierrez reported on this story for Reuters. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. 17_____________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19oenologist - n. a person familiar with the science or study of wines and winemaking 20essence -n. the basic nature of a thing or its defining quality 21flavor -n. the taste of something 22distinctive - adj. having a special quality, style, or attractiveness 23dedication - n. . complete and wholehearted devotion, or commitment, especially to a career or ideal 24What do you think of the Chilean wine growers? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.