Mingaco Cinsault, 2020

Chekura is a family owned vineyard. Daniela, Pablo and Luan (our toddler), are passionate about nature, work with regenerative agriculture and produce small amounts of wine from Itata Valley, Chile. Making their own preps and teas from sea water, native plants and forest floor fungi (all from their land), they learn from, adapt to, and are inspired by the relationships they observe between above and below ground biology. Luscious year-long and very diverse ground cover, and absolutely zero tilling were integral for soil regeneration, which over time has allowed the vines to find their natural state of simbiosis with insects and plants (aka ‘pests’ and ‘weeds’). Pablo planted the vines as a youngster with his father, and has making traditional Southern wine since he was a kid. As well as being a self taught permie, he makes wine according to his untrained natural instincts. 2018 Mingaco Moscatel. Fermented and aged outdoors this is skinsy and layered, dry and delicately generous. With no adds of any kind, it’s a regal drop with heaps to say about very deep rooted dry grown Muscat of Alexandria from the stark granite hilltops of Itata. We fucking really love these wonderful people and their energetic wine. According to some, is one of those labels that is incredibly progressive and important in its context. Game changing regenerative farmers, black sheep of the Itata Valley. Right now the winery is under construction, will be all natural materials (mud and straw) and nestled into the hillside to use gravity for wine movements.