High-Altitude Tannat

Tannat has historically been associated with southwestern France and Uruguay, but we hope that in 5 years, people will associate this variety with high-altitude Peruvian wine. We recently planted Tannat vines from France in our vineyards at 2850 meters (9,350 ft) above sea level.

There isn’t a precedent for growing this variety at such high altitudes. In Madiran, France, the average elevation is 128 m (420 ft). In Uruguay, most Tannat vines are grown at low altitudes on the coast in the departments of Colonia, Maldonado, Carmelo, Canelones, Rivera and Montevideo.

Tannat wine is typically acidic and astringent. Due to the cool nights at our high altitudes, we expect that acidity to be even more notable. Following techniques currently used in Tannat production, we may blend ours or use micro-oxigenation to soften the tannins . We will also make a Tannat rosé, limiting the contact with the skins during maceration in order to keep the wines from getting too tannic.

A consultant from France recommended we plant Tannat here in the Andes because the vines are resistant to mold and fungus, as issue we face during rainy season. The plants also do well in areas with extreme diurnal temperature variations, which is one of the defining characteristics of our terroir. Overall, Tannat is an adaptable plant that can grow in a variety of climate conditions. We expect to produce a bold and delicious Tannat wine in 3 years. Please stay tuned as our vines mature!

Sources:

Slinkard, Stacy. “Why You Want To Drink More Tannat Wine.” Wine Folly, 2 Apr. 2018, winefolly.com/review/why-you-want-to-be-drinking-more-tannat-wine/.

“Tannat.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 May 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannat.