March 16th, 2010.- Leaving behind the 8.8 magnitude earthquake which stroke Chile last February 27th, San Pedro has resumed its normal activities step by step and launched its harvest 2010.
Two weeks after the quake, great progress has been achieved on the assessment and repair labors at the winery and its main vineyard, both located in Molina, at the Curicó Valley. Utmost remarkable has been every employee’s authentic and positive spirit of commitment and to overcome this event.
Many of San Pedro’s vineyards are actually located in areas affected by the earthquake. However, the winery also counts with other plantations in the north and further south of the country, as a result of its philosophy of always search for new and the best origins for its wines. Generally speaking and because the quake occurred before the harvest, the vines and its fruit were not affected.
On the other hand, San Pedro’s winemaking team highlighted that today the winery is 90% operational and will be able to fully accomplish the standards and regular labors required during this period. In two more weeks it will be a 100% operational.
Marco Puyo, Chief Winemaker of Reserve and Premium Wines, informed that in Molina, where San Pedro’s main vineyard is located, the harvest of Sauvignon Blanc grapes started last Thursday 4th of March and in turn, at the Elqui Valley, on Wednesday 10th, because the ripeness of this variety in both valleys had already reached last season’s level.
For the rest of the varieties, whites and reds, a normal evolution is expected, according to maturity analysis to come.
As for the Leyda and Casablanca valleys, where San Pedro counts with white and light red plantations, the pick-up is a little delayed compared with the season 2009, given that the maturity of the grapes is going slower on than usual. Although, it’s difficult to determine exactly how long it will take. This will depend on the analysis done on the fields.
