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Terroir: the Books you Need to Read

Francisca JaraFrancisca Jara

Francisca Jara

Because Marques de Casa Concha is committed to cultivating each variety in the best terroirs in Chile, we have prepared a selection of texts you should definitely read if you want an in-depth understanding of the concept. We also recommend some wines from this portfolio that come from the greatest diversity of terroirs in Chile.

 

Because geology can be difficult to understand, especially when it comes to a topic as specific as wine, Alex Maltman, Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University in Wales offers this contribution that explains it all in simple terms. Thanks to his long academic career, this book is recommended for journalists, sommeliers, and anyone who studies wine, and is also practical for wine lovers. It includes terms such as Jurassic, basalt, and alluvial, all explained through the author’s history and knowledge. He also reveals the connection between soil and wine, which helps unravel what it is we really need to understand about terroir. All written in a very entertaining way.

 

“Terroir Doctor” Pedro Parra holds a PhD in Viticultural Terroir from the Grignon Agricultural Center of Paris and is the author of this new book that is part autobiography, part travel journal with the objective of explaining the relationship between soil, rocks, and wine. With 20 years of experience, this renowned consultant to wineries around the world stands out for his ongoing work that aims to contribute new perspectives on terroir, always seeking out high-quality terrain and encouraging new plantations. His experiences working in places such as Burgundy, Barolo, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Sonoma, Napa, and Itata enables him to exemplify them in this edition available in Spanish and English. Reading this 450-page book is even more enjoyable with a glass of Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir Edición Limitada or Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay Edición Limitada, two delicious options for discovering a bit more about the little-known terroir of the Bío-Bío.

 

This refreshing book couldn’t be further from an intimidating guide full of technical language—in fact, it’s just the opposite. It seeks to explain to novices and experts alike what they should know about the great wines of Europe, with a special emphasis on France. The authors—the renowned former sommelier Rajat Parr and food-and-wine writer Jordan Mackay—draw on their years of wine tasting experience to analyze wine regions and break down each terroir in relation to what is in the glass. They aim to explain how flavor works in accordance with the different characteristics found in the sub-regions, soils, and appellations of origin. They also provide a list of their favorite vineyards in each area. Be sure to read it along with a glass of Marques de Casa Concha Heritage, a Bordeaux-style blend that seeks to faithfully express the terroir of Puente Alto.

 

  • Biodiversity: the missing link of the global concept of terroir, by Francois Chartier

More than a book, this is a manifesto, the first of five phases of an analysis that scientifically demonstrates the aromatic impact of botanical biodiversity on the aromatic identity of wines and foods. This exhaustive scientific work was made public during Barcelona Wine Week in April, when the founder of the aromatic science of molecular harmonies and creator of the “mathematics of flavor,” Francois Chartier (along with the support of sommelier Isabelle Moren and the Chartier World LAB Barcelona team) presented the document that aims to help wine companies and the food industry define “the spirit of the place,” which includes all forms of animal, plant, and bacterial life (including the microorganisms that live in the soil and on the vines). Definitely a milestone, this is the first study of its kind in the history of the world of wine. The publication will be released by Planeta Gastro soon and is not to be missed!

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