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News
Santa Carolina finds ‘lost’ variety
Chilean winery Viña Santa Carolina has discovered a vine of Plant de Chaudefonds in one of its vineyards, a vine so rare just three other plants exist in the world.
The discovery was made at the winery’s vineyard in Totihue (in Cachapoal) in a plot of centennial vines known as the ‘Chacra Centenario’.
The block is part of a “vine material recovery project” that Santa Carolina has in place designed to recover and propagate pre-phylloxera old vine material.
The Chacra Centenario block has 14 varieties planted in it, all had been identified but one was proving particularly stubborn.
With the help of ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursiquot and some DNA analysis, the vine was eventually identified as Plant de Chaudefonds 53, a red variety originally from Chaudefonds-sur-Layon in the Loire that is all but extinct save for three plants still known to be in France.
Now that it has been successfully identified, the variety is going to be reproduced by Santa Carolina’s team working on the old vine project.
It is hoped that after further research to evaluate its potential it may be used in future blends.
I am the owner and wine maker of a small boutique winery in Temecula Valley, California. I am continual student of the culture and history of wine. I found the article fascinating and could only hope to have cuttings(legally) for my vineyard. Perhaps the viticulturist of Chacra Cantenaro will see my remarks. I would really enjoy the challenge of propagating the Vina Santa Carolina in Southern California wine country. In 2016 on went on an extensive wine tour of Chile and Mendoza and thoroughly in enjoyed the experience. The Chilean hospitality was memorable As a passing note, I purchase all of my barrels and staves from the Chilean cooperage T