Erasmo A Benchmark Estate for Fine, Organic Maule Valley Wines
Count Francesco Marone Cinzano’s life has been inextricably linked with fine wine, with a family winemaking tradition dating back over 400 years. In 1995, he visited Chile’s Maule Valley on a trip to the Conquistadores Trail. He fell in love with the land — an area he felt exhibited a true “Harmony of Nature” — and believed it had immense potential for producing world-class wines. Settling in a region called Reserva de Caliboro, he established Erasmo.
The estate is named in honor of a local farmer who helped Count Cinzano learn about the history and unique qualities of the Caliboro Valley. Today, Count Cinzano and his family regularly travel to Chile to experience harvest, oversee bottling, and bring consultants to offer advice on how to improve quality even more. Year-round, the estate is in the capable hands of winemaker Augusto Reyes, who perfected his craft at Count Cinzano’s Col d’Orcia estate in Tuscany’s Montalcino region before joining Erasmo in 2005.
Since the 2015 vintage, Erasmo has been a certified organic winery, while also practicing biodynamic viticulture. Augusto and his team take care to preserve the estate-grown fruit’s natural qualities, using spontaneous fermentation and minimal added sulfur. Alongside sustainability, Erasmo values community. Most of the estate’s workers live on the farm and are encouraged to cultivate their own plot of land within the property. Their orchards, fruit trees, and livestock create a thriving, diverse ecosystem that is essential for Erasmo to farm organically and operate holistically.
After Erasmo organic wines are bottled, 30-35% of them are consumed locally. This is highly unusual for wines from Chile — most Chilean wineries that export globally sell 100% of their wines in international markets. Erasmo also sends finished wines to sommelier schools across Chile for education and research. The wines do have a wide international reach, however, and have earned 90+ point scores from Wine Advocate, Wine Enthusiast, Vinous, and other critics.
Together, the industry acclaim and positive impact on the local community prove that Count Cinzano was right. Erasmo has a true “Harmony of Nature” that results in remarkable organic wines — and thanks to the estate’s sustainability efforts, that legacy will continue for generations to come.
Terroir
The Maule Valley is Chile’s oldest grape growing region, dating back to the 1700s when the Conquistadores Trail was built. Named for the Rio Maule that runs through the valley, the region stretches 257 kilometers / 160 miles south of Santiago, Chile’s capital city.
Located along the river Perquilauquen, Erasmo lies in the subregion of the Caliboro Valley. Situated at 152 meters / 500 feet above sea level, the vineyards are planted on gently sloping alluvial terraces and sandy soil, which are rich in native vegetation and wildlife. The area enjoys intense sunlight (key to ripening grapes), dry southerly winds (which promote vine heath and grape freshness), and optimal rainfall. The latter allows the estate to dry farm, which forces the plants to be self-sufficient, resulting in healthier and stronger vines with more concentrated fruit.
Viticulture
Certified in 2015, the Erasmo organic winery practices biodynamic farming and viticulture. The team uses cover crops and compost-based fertilizers, which are developed from vineyard waste like grape stems, farm animal waste, and food kitchen scraps from the families and staff who live and work on the estate. Grapes are 100% hand harvested, following biodynamic principles. After harvest, sheep live in the vineyards for around five months throughout fall and winter, which helps lower stress on the vines and prepare them for winter.
The Making of Erasmo Organic Wines
Erasmo’s natural philosophy extends to the winery, where the team uses spontaneous fermentation and minimal added sulfur. The first harvested grapes are put into small, stainless-steel tanks with open tops and placed in sunlight to start the fermentation process. These “inoculators” are added to the must of the remainder of the harvest to incite fermentation. Erasmo organic wines are bottled in the lightest possible glass to reduce their environmental impact, and each label features the condor, the sacred bird of the Incans, in recognition of the region’s Andean heritage.
