South American Grapes: A 16th-Century Comeback, Now Aged to Perfection [Part-1]

I recently attended a wine event in Manhattan curated by Descorchados 2025, a name synonymous with the best of South American wine.
Descorchados started in Chile in 1999, thanks to wine journalist Patricio Tapia. At the time, Chile’s wine scene was bursting with new grape varieties, unexplored regions, and daring styles. Tapia, inspired by his studies in Bordeaux, saw the need for a guide that offered a personal yet unbiased look at South American wines. What began as a Chile-only guide featuring around 600 wines soon expanded to cover Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, becoming the continent’s most trusted wine resource.

Each year, Tapia tastes nearly 6,000 wines from over 600 wineries, blending producer-led tastings with blind evaluations to ensure an honest, fresh perspective. Descorchados now features a website rich with reports, interviews, and insights for wine enthusiasts worldwide. The latest edition, Descorchados 2023-2024, marks 25 years of exploration, reviewing 5,159 wines from six countries, including emerging regions and new producers. Tapia highlights a growing trend toward fresher, lighter, and food-friendly wines, with an increasing focus on terroir expression.

Ancient Grapes of South America: Lost to Time, Found in Your Glass

South America’s wine story began in the 1500s, when Spanish colonizers and Jesuit priests brought Vitis Vinifera vines across the Atlantic, primarily for sacramental wine. Among the first grapes was Listán Prieto, later known as Criolla in Argentina, País in Chile, and Mission in the U.S. By the 16th century, vineyards flourished across Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, laying the foundation for a rich winemaking tradition.
In the 19th century, European immigration introduced French, Italian, and Spanish grape varieties, elevating quality and expanding production. Chile embraced Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, while Argentina’s Malbec thrived in Mendoza, adapting to high-altitude conditions. The 1885 railway expansion connected Mendoza to major markets, accelerating Argentina’s wine industry.
Unlike Europe, South America avoided the widespread phylloxera crisis, preserving many vines on their original rootstocks. Chile’s rediscovery of Carmenere in the 1990s and Argentina’s Malbec boom cemented their global reputation.
Today, South America’s wine scene thrives, blending modern innovation with old-world techniques. Winemakers are reviving heritage grapes like País and Criolla, embracing amphora aging, and celebrating their deep-rooted traditions. From the bold reds of Mendoza to the crisp whites of Chile’s coastal valleys, the continent’s wines continue to captivate the world.

South American Wine Adventures:

The New York event, curated by Descorchados 2025 featured the following wines;

1. Bodega Murga Ponte Mosca 2024 Pisco, Peru
2. Bodega Murga Sophia L’Orange 2024
3. Jardin Oculto Blanco de Noir Finca Lumen 2023 Los Cintis
4. Jaren Oculto Finca Molle Pampa 2023 Los Cintis
5. Robert Henriquez Santa Cruz de Coya 2021 Bio Bio
6. Roberto Henriquez, Molino del Ciega 2023 Itata

InMyPersonalOpinion.Life

I recognize that objectivity in wine is limited. Beyond technical quality, taste is personal and open to interpretation. That’s why my comments reflect the perspective of a single author not a group consensus or an average of many opinions. It’s a personal, subjective view of each wine, not the ultimate truth, but one well-informed vision among many.

A Fresh Find for Curious Palates

1. Bodega Murga Ponte Mosca 2024. Crafted in Pisco, Peru.

Brings together three distinctive varietals: Italia, Italia Rosada, and Muscatel, each contributing unique layers to the wine’s aromatic complexity. Italia delivers bright, expressive aromas of white peach, orange blossom, and citrus zest, offering freshness and vibrancy. Italia Rosada introduces delicate pink hues alongside elegant floral notes, adding finesse and charm. Muscatel weaves in a honeyed sweetness, subtle spice, and tropical lift, enhancing depth and texture. With a vibrant orange-gold hue, this wine unfolds layers of chirimoya, guanabana, passion fruit, lychee, mandarins, jasmine, and chamomile, balanced by fresh acidity and a medium-long persistence.
Peru’s Pisco Valley isn’t just for pisco anymore and Bodega Murga is changing expectations with a serious style. Founded in 2014 by pisco legend Alberto Di Laura and sommelier Arturo Inga, this estate is all about authentic, hands-off winemaking.
The winery sits in the historic Fundo Murga, with vineyards rooted in sandy loam soils, 15.5 miles from the Pacific. Murga’s philosophy is built on quality, sustainability, and tradition: no pesticides or herbicides in the vineyards; only native yeasts, minimal sulfur, and non-toxic materials used in the cellar.
Brazilian winemaker Pietra Possamai brings a natural wine flair that sommeliers will appreciate and adventurous drinkers will love. With his guidance this estate is recognized for producing natural wines that are expressive, textured, and food-friendly. The use of native yeasts, minimal sulfur, and a mix of fermentation vessels (including amphora and concrete eggs) contributes to the complexity and purity of their wines. The estate’s focus on traditional criolla varieties and chemical-free farming further enhances the aromatic and mineral-driven profile. The grapes used enable the crafting of expressive, playful natural wines from pisco grapes that include Quebranta, Mollar, Albilla, and others, using skin contact, co-fermentation, and aging in stainless steel, concrete eggs, and amphora
The estate’s “Joyas de Murga” (“Jewels of Murga”) wines pay homage to the valley’s centuries-old viticultural traditions, with a focus on transparency and terroir.

In the Glass

• Eye: Pale amber resulting from use of skin contact and natural winemaking, especially with white or criolla grapes which often yield orange or amber tones.
• Nose: Bursting with perfume, wildflowers, cucumbers, fresh herbs, and a hint of orchard fruit and botanicals.
• Palate: Lively acidity, a gentle grip from skin contact, and a whisper of sea breeze minerality. Medium-bodied but full of personality.
• Finish: Bright and refreshing with a clean, saline edge, this wine is made for food lovers. Its mouthwatering acidity and mineral-driven profile pair beautifully with fresh ceviche, smoky grilled octopus, or any dish packed with savory depth.

Why You Should You Care

Ponte Mosca 2024 is a conversation starter and a palate refresher. It’s a rare chance to pour something truly new from South America that is expressive, terroir-driven, and made with zero shortcuts. Surprise friends and guests, or add a unique bottle to your cellar, this is the ticket to the Pisco Valley’s vibrant renaissance.

2. Bodega Murga Sophia L’Orange 2024.

85 percent Quebranta, 15 percent Mollar, with orange skincontact during maceration.

In the Glass

• Eye: Deep amber-orange with cherry/pink highlights.
• Nose: Aromatic mix of ripe fruit (apple, passion fruit, pineapple), vibrant citrus, floral spices, and smoky/herbal undertones.
• Palate: Dry, medium-bodied with medium-plus acidity and gentle tannins; flavors of wild red fruits, minerals, saline, spices, dry cherry, roasted tomato, mesquite-barbecue nuances
• Finish: Long, savory, and structured with a leafherbal, umami character that lingers.

[Series – to be continued]

© Dr.Elinor.Garely, InMyPersonalOpinion.Life.2025]. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used without permission. For inquiries, contact EG@InMyPersonalOpinion.Life, Dr.Elinor Garely.”