2018 Cacique Maravilla Gutiflower Frizzante

Region: Bio Bio Valley < Chile

Grapes: Moscatel d’Alexandria (90), Corinto (10)

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Biodynamic farming; dry-farmed, OLD, own-rooted vines (planted in 1776) on volcanic trumao (ash) soils; macerated on the skins then foot-stomped and fermented in Ecotanks for 2 months; clarified naturally by gravity; bottled unfiltered with no added SO2; 166 cases; 13% ABV

Winemaker: Manuel Moraga Gutiérrez

Another crazy cool wine from Manuel Moraga Gutiérrez, a larger-than-life figure who sports an awesome handlebar mustache.  He's the 7th generation of his family to work this vineyard in the small town of Yumbel, about 300 miles south of Santiago in the volcanic Bio Bio Valley. In 2010, the man behind Cacique Maravilla wines, Manuel Moraga, lost everything to one of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history. Over the past 8 years he has slowly rebuilt his house and bodega, all the while making his wines, which are as real as you get from Chile.  This is his fizzy orange wine, made of the aromatic Moscatel d’Alexandria grape in the ancestral method.  Sparkling wine is definitely not traditional in Chile, but Manuel’s late father accidentally stumbled upon this technique and now Guti is made every year.  Viscous and lightly bubbly, there’s a little snap, crackle and pop in the mouth at first, before the Rice Krispie action morphs into Orangina with a touch of ginger. Near the end of the bottle, the peachy-orange flavors intensify, taking on a mimosa vibe.  This wine is like your entire Sunday brunch in a glass!  Drink with something slightly spicy, like Kimchi or Srichacha, as some heat plays nicely with Gutiflower’s verve.