Colombian Wines

daver says on Jun 2, 2005, 17:10:

What I have heard is that Colombia is not a wine country. There may be wines here, but I haven't heard of any... They are not on par with Chile, Australia, France, Itatly, California etc...

People here are not a wine drinking sort of people (they drink wine, but they are not exactly wine lovers)

Well, not much help to you, sorry

Colombian coffee.... thats a different story

Dave

Mr. Hollywood says on Jun 2, 2005, 18:15:

I hear it's swill The reason Colombia can't produce good wine is because it's too close to the equator and never gets long enough days to produce great grapes.

juanalejo says on Jun 2, 2005, 19:08:

Colombian Wines Wines in Colombia are definitelly not famous for being good, although I can say I have hardly tried them (I am not a wine expert anyhow), some Chilean friends of mine told me that they were much better quality than the reputation we Colombians give them. Casa Grajales comes to mind as a wine production in the Valle del Cauca region, I also know the wine yards in Villa de Leyva are famous for tourists. I have seen them for sale both in Carrefour and in Exito, so if you come to Colombia just give them a try and let us know. Here is a small history of Colombian wines, but it is in Spanish.
Los vinos de Colombia
El cultivo de la vid en Colombia se introdujo entre las décadas de los años veinte y cuarenta del siglo XX. Se inició en el valle del río Cauca, en la zona suroccidental, con la plantación de extensiones pequeñas que, más tarde, se ampliaron a otras zonas. De esta manera, en el año 1932 había viñedos en Antioquia, Santander, Tolima y Santa Marta. Con anterioridad, como aconteció en todas las regiones colonizadas por España, hay vestigios de su introducción desde principios del siglo XVI en asentamientos y encomiendas, que no pasaron de ser intentos de la época colonial y del período siguiente.

Ya en el siglo XIX, y tras la emancipación política, Colombia siguió importando vinos y licores, particularmente de España. El consumo de vinos dulces (Málaga) y anisados (Chinchón), por su bajo precio, se convirtieron en bebidas habituales en las urbes incipientes y entre las clases medias, mientras las clases sociales altas consumían productos de alta factura y las bajas continuaban con la chicha obtenida de la fermentación del maíz.

En 1909, el estado de Colombia instituyó dos organismos de control: el Monopolio Estatal en la Producción de Alcohol, Destilados y Licores (mínimo 28° alcohólicos) y el Monopolio Particular en la Producción de Fermentados - cerveza, sidra, aperitivos y vinos- (máximo 28° alcohólicos).

Algunos particulares destilaban, en su mayoría para la producción de brandy, mediante contratos con los gobiernos de las provincias y el pago de regalías.

Posteriormente, Ceferino González, un español que arribó en 1943 al valle del río Cauca, consideró aptas las tierras para la viticultura y desarrolló en aquella zona los primeros parrales. Más tarde se empezaron a usar los portainjertos que llevó el italiano Laurini. Más hacia el sur, otro agricultor cultivó cepas Tokay, Málaga y Riviera, iniciando la experimentación de injertos, estacas y espalderas. Otro trajo de Chile 48 variedades de uva. Onofre Benítez, un auxiliar de don Ceferino González, hizo el primer ensayo de vinificación para producir un vino blanco seco de gran clase, para asombro del señor González. A este inquieto personaje le siguieron los hermanos Grajales, que desarrollaron una gran industria vinícola en Colombia.

Desde el inicio de la industria vinícola colombiana, de clara ascendencia española y portuguesa, el gusto de la población se inclinó hacia vinos dulces, inicialmente producidos a imagen de los vinos de Málaga, Jerez y Oporto, así que el mayor porcentaje de producción lo constituye esta variedad; a continuación sigue la producción de espumosos de gran demanda, y, por último, los aperitivos vínicos y los vinos secos corrientes. Los principales competidores del vino siguen siendo el anisado y la cerveza, que son las bebidas de mayor arraigo en la población desde el siglo XIX. Como el destilado lo elaboran empresas estatales, el coste burocrático ha hecho que su precio aumente desproporcionadamente. No ocurre lo mismo con la cerveza, que se mantiene a precios bastante más bajos.

Actualmente, existen unas 75 empresas productoras de vino, aperitivos y similares. Sin embargo, tan sólo 15 empresas representan el 85% de la producción nacional, que alcanza los 22 millones de litros, incluyendo todo tipo de vinos (corrientes, espumosos, burbujeantes, aperitivos vínicos y de otras frutas). El consumo nacional se establece en la misma cifra de producción, ya que todo el producto se consume en el mercado interno. La falta de formación y de conocimientos enológicos del pueblo colombiano es un gran inconveniente, ya que el vino es un producto nuevo para el consumidor corriente. La importación de vinos de la ALADI conlleva, como consecuencia positiva, que la gente joven consuma preferentemente vino seco.

Zonas de producción
La zona principal de producción de uva en Colombia está situada a lo largo del valle del río Cauca, en su curso alto, con una longitud de 280 kilómetros y 20 de ancho. Una segunda zona se localiza en el norte del país, en Santa Marta, con un clima más tropical. Existen viñedos de dimensiones más reducidas en los departamentos de Boyacá y Tolima, mientras que los de Cundinamarca son casi testimoniales.

Dolfi says on Jun 3, 2005, 02:08:

I think wine is not allways made from grapes in Colombia, I tasted some stuff based on other fruit, not too bad.

By the way wine is ridiculously expensive in Colombia, even the chilean stuff is more expensive than in Europe.

Dolfi says on Jun 3, 2005, 02:08:

I think wine is not allways made from grapes in Colombia, I tasted some stuff based on other fruit, not too bad.

By the way wine is ridiculously expensive in Colombia, even the chilean stuff is more expensive than in Europe.

kernow62 says on Jun 3, 2005, 04:14:

Speaking of fruit wines; it is a bit of a tradition in England. My grandfather and my mother both made homemade wines out of all sorts of fruits and veg. I remember peapod wine, beetroot wine, carrot wine, elderberry wine, blackberry wine etc... As a child grandad would give me a drop to help me sleep. I used to like to look at the colours dancing on the wall as the sunlight streamed through the demi-johns; each one holding a different coloured elixir.

With the mora being so popular in Colombia is there any local fruit wines made from it, what about mora brandy? Is it common for people to make their own wine for home consumption, or is it practically unknown? Is it legal to make wine at home in Colombia?

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 3, 2005, 05:40:

Colombian has bad wines y you Colombian has bad wines if you can call it wine, Grajales is a no very good wine and I don't understand it, because we have good weather to producce it, I don't understand what kind of grapes grajales grow but it is no very fine, the wine taste cheap. The best wine you can buy in the normal supermarkets are casillero del diablo(Chile),or the Ernest and Julio Gallo(USA) you can be safe with this wine they are 28.000 to 30.000 COP a bottle.or go to a licorera and get a finer one I love Carmen from chile.

engage brain before opening mouth

Mr. Hollywood says on Jun 3, 2005, 06:44:

About the weather Kat1, it's counterintuitive, but because Colombia has constant 12 hour days and nights, it doesn't generate enough daylight hours for good grapes. That's why all the famous wines come from places like France, California and Chile that are located at middle latitudes and have long, warm summer days and generally dry falls.

carolain11 says on Jun 3, 2005, 07:28:

in barranquilla you can find corozo wine, it's delicious...

quindioman says on Jun 3, 2005, 07:29:

colombian wines!?1? what Colombian wines????
I wouldn't wash my mum's car with that stuff
Mind you Cherrynol is very cheap, minimal taste but very addictive
If you are looking for an authentic alcoholic beverage look out for regional Chichas......this is Colombian home made cider.....hmmmmmmmmmm tasty!

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 3, 2005, 07:59:

Cockney What about Cinzano o Cariñoso, You will get a free diarrhoea next day. hehe

engage brain before opening mouth

ColomBuenazo says on Jun 3, 2005, 08:02:

There IS a NASCENT Wine Industry in Colombia Colombia has a NASCENT and growing, world-class winemaking industry. Dr. Marco Quijano-Rico Ph.D., took it upon himself after returnig from abroad (hats off to him for such a great entreprenurial spirit), to create an impressive winery (Viñedo Marqués de Puntalarga)in the most picturesque and fertile valleys of Boyacá. Some of the finest wines in the whole country are produced at that facility which, incidently, hosts a yearly Wine Festival during December and January. Germany, Italy and France are some of the host countries that have been featured in the Fiestas del Vid del Valle del Sol. White Riesling, Riesling Becker, Pinot Noir among others, are some of the exquisite wine varieties produced in Viñedo Puntalarga. His project has been featured in the most reputable Colombian newspapers such as El Tiempo and El Espectador.

Viñedo Puntalarga has a current website from which wines can be ordered:
http://www.boyaca.homestead.com/catalogovinos.html

Estos vinos NO tienen NADA que envidiarle a los Australes o Europeos.

I hope I have contributed to DEMYSTIFY such pervasive myth about Colombia not having world-class wines.

quindioman says on Jun 3, 2005, 08:29:

colombuenazo you're definately right....the Colombian wine industry is nothing but a nascent one....I'm from Armenia but spend a lot of time in Cali...in my opinion the only place you will get a decent bottle of plonk is in Bogota....I was in Cali last summer and was hoping to get a decent bottle of claret but I would have had more chance of seeing snow falling on the streets of Cali than getting a decent bottle of plonk......I think that with due time we wouldn't need to go further than the local store to get a nice bottle for lunch

Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 3, 2005, 12:30:

grajales is actually better than its reputation. Grajales rosé semi-seco goes down ok well-chilled on a Sunday afternoon by the pool with good friends. On the other hand, I have tasted the most awful wine I ever drank in Colombia...one sip and the rest went down the drain.

There should be a market for fruit wines and brandies in Colombia, I think. Colombians like their wine sweet and not many drink wine at meals. Cordials and dessert wines are more popular.

Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

flaleo says on Jun 5, 2005, 07:53:

Cali used to have a good wine store in Normandia - La Cava, Av 4W #1-108 - but it's since become a mass-market chain (and that location is closed) that only imports two or three labels and they are not good but mass-market. For now, I know of no where to buy a good bottle of wine (comprable to Argentina or Chile, let alone to California, France or Australia).

Medellin has a store - La Ravinia, Calle 10 A #36-29 - which had the look of the old La Cava and did carry some of the better vinyards (Carmen, LaGuarde) from SA.

lvelez says on Jul 25, 2005, 14:44:

About Wines in Colombia Here at Cali you can find multiple importes wines at big chain stores. If you miss La Cava here, go to Vinos de la Corte Cava, I recomend you Carta Vieja selection wines (good prices also). I've heard and taste Marquez de Villa de Leyva Gran Reserva from 2003 vendimia and I think its a 85 point avarage wine, not bad for our tropical weather but not as good as a French, Northe American or South American wine. If any one whants to know about wine in Colombia, just ask.

Thanks to all

Luis Velez
Club de Sommeliers
Cali, Valle del Cauca.

flaleo says on Jul 26, 2005, 09:56:

Like lvelez posts, Cali has nothing but mass-market average and lower than average wines. That's unfortunate if the MdVdL GR is the best one can find...

If you are a wine fan - Cali is BYOB (or buy in Bogota or Medellin). And even then the prices are not a bargain (likely about equal to what you'd pay in Argentina or Chile).

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 26, 2005, 15:27:

If you want to find good wine in Colombia You have to go to a good licorera, there was a good one in avenue 19 in Bogota I don't know if that one exits still. But as I say before in supermarkets the choice is very limit.

engage brain before opening mouth

utopiacowboy says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:06:

If I wanted to be like Paisa29 I could butt in here and say that whoever is teaching you English should point out that in the above context it should be "limited" not "limit". But I understood what you were saying, so who gives a rat's ass?

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:12:

Thanks you see you are so tho Thanks you, see you are so thoughtful always helping a friend in need. I owe you one ;-)

engage brain before opening mouth

utopiacowboy says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:17:

One of the things I love about mi querida esposa is she does not spend her time correcting my Spanish if she understands what I'm saying. I usually discover my own mistakes from listening to her so constant corrections are not necessary. They just end up making you feel self-conscious and you stop saying anything. Probably Larry takes the same approach.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:25:

Larry just bark jejej

engage brain before opening mouth

utopiacowboy says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:28:

That hound dog. I'd be barking too. Sniffing and panting as well.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:30:

God!!you are a naughty boy

engage brain before opening mouth

utopiacowboy says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:32:

You're not going to hit me wi You're not going to hit me on the snout with a rolled up newspaper are you? Arf! Arf!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:36:

sit

engage brain before opening mouth

utopiacowboy says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:39:

Ok. Voy a sentarme y lamer mis pelotas. Woof! Woof!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 26, 2005, 16:40:

good boy good boy good boy, good boy

engage brain before opening mouth

flaleo says on Jul 27, 2005, 02:42:

Interesting, I've instructed my GF to correct every little mistake I make, so that I'll learn, especially the little details (a ti or de ti or en ti... para or por... le or lo or la... conjugation, etc.).

Maybe after a few months or years I'll tire of it, huh? ;)

utopiacowboy says on Jul 27, 2005, 08:07:

A simple conversation which is constantly interrupted to correct minor errors which do not affect comprehension is tedious. It turns everything into a nonstop lesson in grammar - like being in school 24x7 with a schoolmarm correcting your every sentence. Sound like fun? Listening to my wife and her kids is a feed-back mechanism that allows me to correct my own mistakes. Occasionally I'll ask my wife about something and we'll discuss proper usage or different ways of saying the same thing.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.