VIñA VIK
I was flying from Singapore to Argentina via Chile where I gave myself a three-night stopover in Chile to get over my Asian jetlag before taking another flight to my final destination.
I have never previously been to this South American country.
I have heard about the ‘must visit’ places in Chile like the Atacama Desert in North, Rapa Nui giants in the East, Torre del Paine in the South, however, to get to those places I needed to take another flight, which clearly wasn’t my plan after been on the planes for 25 hours. My visit needed to be a local adventure.
Since I am a big appreciator of wines, I have decided to rent a car and drive to a local vineyard where I could stay and play.
My choice was a boutique vineyard- Viña VIK. It is a young winery and a hotel founded by Alexander Vik and his wife in the valley of Millahue. Millahue, from Mapudungun- a language of local Indians, means ‘a place of gold’.
After a two-hour picturesque drive from Santiago I have arrived to what could possibly be a James Bond movie location.
A modern glass hotel with the titanium roof reminiscent of an ice cream in a cone was sitting right in between the vines, reservoir and mountains. It looked cutting-edge yet abandoned with no random soul to bang against. Despite being fully occupied as I found out later.
The hotel has 22 rooms dedicated to modern art and decorated individually by Chilean and Uruguayan artists. There are like micro universes: eclectic in approach and design yet a part of the same hotel. From Japanese Shogun suite with paper-panel blinds, bamboo bath and artistic walls by Japanese artist Takeo Hanazawa to Room H- influenced by Hermes horses. This place is a winery turned into an art gallery surrounded by nature, clean air and bio food.
The hotel offers activities like hiking, horseback riding and cycling through the vineyards. It has a great spa with massage therapists and a swimming pool with the views into infinity of countryside.
The main theme, though, seems to be eating and drinking. The food is inclusive into the room price and consists of an exceptional set menu, different every day, with dishes prepared from vegetables and fruits from the organic vegetable garden- a part of the property, neighbour farmer meat and local fish.
Mind-blowing architecture and inspiring art is not the only achievements of the Viks.
Five-minute walk and yet again – you are in the different Universe. The winery is like no others. Looking like a gigantic white hangar with ceiling to floor windows and an epic entrance- The Viks are making their wine underground!
From our quick-guided tour around the property I found out that with the help of scientist and oenologists it took 4000 soil samples over 11 acres of land and a detailed researched terroir for each varietal (how a particular region’s climate, soils and terrain affect the taste of wine) before VIK decided this was ‘IT’.
The major 5 categories of grapes grown in the premises are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot and Syrah. The grapes are harvested at night and two-thirds of harvest is sold to other wineries when the finest go to wine production.
Other interesting thing is that the fermetatin process happens in large titanium barrels underground, where the extraction of juice happens under its own weight.
The VIK vineyard produces 3 types of red wine: Milla Cala, La Piu Belle and VIK.
All three are a combination of all 5 grapes grown in premises but in different concentrations and ageing. VIK is the ‘haute-couture’ of the range.
In 2018, Milla Cala was awarded #22 on Wine Spectators 2018 Top 100 Wines and VIK 2013 was awarded #3 on Vine Pair’s list of 50 Top Wines.
In late 2018 Viña Vik released their first rosé- La Piu Belle Rosé- that is a delicious blend of cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.
It is worth reminding that Chile is the one of not many countries producing the Carmenere grape, which has been killed elsewhere after phylloxera epidemic.
It is also worth noting that Chilean wines have a very low sulfate concentration, which makes it healthier and hangover friendly.
Viña VIK is like poetry to the soul, it is full of great wines, delicious food, scenic nature and an artistic vibe.
Travelizer
XXX