Pedro Parra Pais 2021

Pedro Parra is one of the most important figures in Chilean wine today. He holds a PhD in Terroir from the Paris Center of Agriculture, and has consulted for wineries in France, Spain, Argentina and Chile. He didn’t start as a winemaker, but after working for years across Chile’s multifaceted and diverse wine regions, he was inspired to start his own project. The goal would be to highlight some of the amazing vineyard land he was driving past and working in.

This País is a great example of Pedro Parra’s vision. These vines are over 100 years old, and farmed completely organically. They’ve survived depressions, abandonments, dictatorships and downturns, and are still here. Itata is a region that represents the southern end of Chile’s viable vineyard land, at nearly 36 degrees south of the equator. The nearby city of Concepción is a 5+ hour drive south of the capitol, Santiago.

Like many old-vine vineyards, this one has persisted for a reason. Parra is able to dry-farm it, which means that the vines are at equilibrium with their environment, and able to survive without a ton of external input. Curiously, we have two of the same grape in this Circle release, from either side of the Andes. País and Criolla Chica are both actually Listán Prieto, a grape that comes originally from Spain. But these two expressions couldn’t be more different. The Criolla is light, perfumed, and aromatic, grown at high altitude next to the Andes in Argentina, while this País is grown at a lower altitude, closer to the Pacific Ocean in Chile.

Pedro Parra’s País is a pure and true example of this grape–it leads with bright, brambly red fruit with a lot of warmth and sunshine behind it. This roots you to the place it’s grown. You can smell the dust of the dry earth, the wild weeds and herbs, and the aromatic eucalyptus trees surrounding this vineyard. It’s tangy and savory, with medium weight and a crisp finish. Pair this with just about any chicken or vegetable dish, especially ones with herbs.