Viña Los Vascos is one of my favorite Chilean wineries. The wines are perfectly priced and the quality is always great. They have been around for over thirty years, producing unforgettable wines and discovering new ways to connect with the land. I have had these wines at many of my events, and they’re always a hit!

When Claudio Naranjo came to NYC this March, I knew he would bring some great wines and even better stories! He was born and raised in Santiago and was a CPA before he became General Manager of Los Vascos. He is a wonderful man, who led us through an incredible selection of wines, from the whites to the rose, and even some of their higher-end reds! It was quite an afternoon at Tavern on The Green, we had the perfect spring day, great company, and top-notch Chilean wines.

The winery blends Lafite tradition and techniques, with the unique terroir of Chile, and you’ll notice it when you taste the 2019 Chardonnay. It’s an elegant wine, with grapes sourced from the coolest terroirs in the Colchagua Valley. It has a ton of freshness and great minerality. It’s partially aged on its lees, which makes for a nice texture and creaminess in the wine. It’s beautiful and expressive with aromas of honeydew, apples, and lemon. This wine paired nicely with the Shrimp Cocktail and a side of Tavern on The Green’s famous french fries! 

I was excited about the 2019 Rosé which was up second because I have loved the last few rosé vintages from them. 2019 was fruit-driven with nice cherry, pomegranate, and orange blossom. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, this wine is aged in tanks to preserve the nice fruit and freshness. Overall it’s a delicious wine, which went well with the Crab Cakes!

Alongside the rosé and chardonnay, we had the pleasure of tasting the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc. These vines are mainly sourced in the Casablanca Valley, from the coolest parts of the valley. It’s a smooth wine with a lot to offer, and fruity notes of peach, pineapple, and lychee. A nice crisp finish made this wine ideal also with the Salmon.

After some bites and nice chilled wines, we dove into the big, bold, reds. The reds of Los Vascos are striking and beautiful, and I have yet to meet a red wine of theirs I didn’t like. The lineup included:

2018 Cabernet Sauvignon: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with deep ruby color and intensity. Red fruit, plum, and cherry, on the nose with nice spice and cocoa. A bit of black pepper on the finish makes this wine ideal with lean meats as well as burgers.

2017 Grande Réserve Cabernet Sauvignon: 85% Cab, 10% Syrah, and 5% Carmenere. A big wine with intense red fruit and ripe blackberry notes. Some flint and wood notes come through, with nice dark chocolate on the finish. It’s a great wine with wonderful tannins and a nice body! This would pair nicely with summer barbecue foods such as grilled vegetables, kebabs, and steaks!

2018 Grande Réserve Carmenère: 100% Carmenere with a bright ruby color. A very expressive nose with sour cherry, blackberry, and pepper notes. On the palate, this wine has nice savory notes as well as some herbaceous tones. Nice ripe tannins make this wine great to pair with skirt steak or grilled fish!

2015 Le Dix De Los Vascos: 85% Cab, 10% Carmenere, 5% Syrah with notes of gorgeous raspberry, ripe cherry, and spice. Some cocoa and nuttiness followed by nice mineral notes are what really intrigued me about this wine. The finish is well balanced and magnificent; overall a really delicious wine! This wine we enjoyed with the dessert course, however, I think it’s perfect to pair with lamb, grilled steaks, or swordfish!

As mentioned above, this winery has always been a favorite because I love their quality and passion. Chilean wines are wonderful and have great price points right now for the high quality they showcase. These family wineries keep to traditions while finding unique new ways to bring you these special wines!