My Telegraph wine column this week is on the wine brand that a lot of ‘wine people’ tell me they buy when they’re on a budget and stuck in a supermarket or convenience store. You can read it here. Casillero del Diablo (yes, it’s them) are owned by Concha y Toro. I didn’t have space in the paper to mention Concha’s other brilliant high street brand, Cono Sur but they’re interesting because not only are the wines good but it has a completely different feel.
Five things to know about Cono Sur:
1. It is located in the wonderfully-named Chimbarongo. I’ll say that again, just because I can. Chimbarongo.
2. It’s overseen by the very lovely Adolfo Hurtado, once described to me as a “mini Mel Gibson.” (I won’t say by whom.)
3. It’s big on sustainability with an army of geese patrolling the vineyard for bugs.
4. Workers pedal round the vineyards on bicycles, hence the name of their Bicicleta range.
5. My favourite Cono Sur Bicicleta wines are the easygoing, peachy viognier and the bright riesling which prove Chile can make great cheap whites. I also like the ordinary pinot noir but my extra-favourite is the Organic Pinot Noir. It costs £1.50 more and doesn’t promote down so low but is properly, properly good.
On yer bike: Adolfo Hurtado (Mini Mel to you)
Vineyards in Chimbarongo
Vineyard workers
- Bicicleta: Can’t reach the pedals
One thought on “On your bike”
C Huggins
Geese patrolling to keep bugs down. Love it. And the wine is good as well. I’ll be searching in my local supermarkets for it.