During the 2008 spring break, undergraduate Viticulture and Enology students explored the vineyards and wineries of Chile, funded by the Susan Lynch Experiential Learning Endowment in Plant Sciences.
Stops included Errazuriz in the Aconcagua Valley, Veramonte in the Casablanca Valley, Concha y Toro and Haras de Pirque in the Maipo Valley, Estampa and Vinedos Organicos Emiliana in the Colchagua Valley, and Via Wines in the Maule Valley.
We also had the opportunity to visit several universities with viticulture programs, including the Quillota campus of the Catholic University of Valparaiso, the University of Chile, and the University of Talca.
The viticultural highlights are far too numerous to describe, but included the soil pit in the Don Melchor vineyard at Concha y Toro and the biodynamic reparations at Vinedos Organicos Emiliana. We also enjoyed a delectable seafood lunch at Ian Merwin’s favorite restaurant in Valparaiso.
By Michelle Leinfelder, graduate student
