Polkura Winery Guide
EXPLORE ALL OUR RECOMMENDED CHILEAN WINERIES
Last updated: April 10, 2024
Winery Overview
Sven Bruchfeld and Gonzalo Muñoz; two men on a mission to craft Chile’s best Syrah, driven by a life-long passion for the grape and a belief that the Colchagua Valley in Chile could be the next great terrior for this variety. They established vineyards in the valley very recently, planting 12 hectares of Syrah in 2002. By Chilean standards, this was to be a tiny, almost boutique style operation with a production of fewer than 5,000 cases a year across their range. In a short space of time, the wines have risen to the top ranks of Syrah being produced in Chile today, Sven and Gonzalo are setting the standard for others to follow.
The seeds for this great endeavor were sown in 1998, the two winemakers met-up in Narbonne quite by chance one afternoon. Long-time friends since University, the two men tasted their way through a selection of local Syrahs and instantly knew that this was the grape variety they wished to nurture to perfection. Only one country would do – Chile. After returning to South America they set about searching for the ideal terroir to realize their dream. In 2002, they settled upon an area known as Marchigue, a sub-region of the Colchagua Valley. Purchasing a run-down farm gave them access to some land known as the Polkura Hill, meaning yellow stone, a reference to a large amount of yellow granite in the clay soils of the area. The vineyard site, located on the eastern edge of the Valley, benefited from the cooling Pacific Ocean breezes and higher altitude. Their mission was finally realized and in 2004, the first vintage was released.
Minute quantities of their Block G+I Syrah are produced today, a wine that many consider to be Chile’s greatest expression of the Rhone grape variety. The Brucellosis and Muñoz families are not ones to idly sit on their hands, however, and constantly strive to take the wines to new heights. Top notch modern facilities and a unique terroir help them achieve this. The wines continue to impress all who taste them, for sheer opulence and rich, supple exotic fruit they are hard to beat. Visitors to the stunningly beautiful Colchagua valley are guaranteed the wine experience of a lifetime and with Sven and Gonzalo, you are in safe hands!
Wines produced
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Polkura Syrah
92% Syrah, 4% Malbec, 1% Tempranillo, 1% Grenache Noir, 1% Mourvedre, 1% Viognier. Produced from Syrah Vines planted on Clay/Limestone soils. Aged for 12 months in 20% new French and American oak. -
Polkura Block G+I
98% Syrah, 2% Viognier. Produced from Syrah Vines planted on Syrah Clay/Limestone soils. Aged for 22 months in 50% new French Oak. The flagship wine of the property, designed for a long period of ageing. -
Polkura Malbec
100% Malbec. Produced from Malbec Vines planted on Clay/Limestone soils. Aged for 19 months in 30% new French oak. -
Aylin Sauvignon Blanc
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Produced from old vines grown in the Leyda in the San Antonio Valley. Fermented in stainless steel and given extended maturation on the lees. Aged for 14 weeks in 10% new French oak.
Winery Contact Details
Polkura
Avenida Kennedy, 5454Of. 804 Vitacura Santiago
Chile
Email: [email protected]
Tel + 56 (0) 99 579 9510
Fax + 56 (0) 29 538 171 Find out more
Facts & Figures
Appellation
Colchagua Valley
Founded
2002
Area under Vine
12 hectares
Age of vines
30 years+
Oak barrel origin
French
Winemaker
Sven Bruchfeld
Owner
Bruchfeld and Muñoz families
Production
60,000 cases per annum
Grape varietals
Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Malbec, Viognier, Grenache, Mourvedre
Grape Varieties Used by the Winery
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Viognier
Viognier comes from the northern Rhône valley AOC of Condrieu and is where its most famous white wines are produced.
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Grenache
Garnacha: Spain's Red Gem. Akin to Pinot Noir, it bridges terroir and winemaking, crafting captivating expressions.
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Malbec
Delve into Malbec, a dark, small grape native to France, cherished for its thick skin and exceptional flavors. 🍇🍷
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Mourvedre
Mourvèdre is a red wine grape variety of mysterious origin that's grown around the world, including the Rhone and Provence regions of France.
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Sauvignon Blanc
The sauvignon blanc grape varietal, originally from the Bordeaux region of France, is now one of the world's most loved white varieties.
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Syrah
Syrah is dark-skinned and perhaps the most underrated of the 'noble' red grape varieties.
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Tempranillo
Discover Tempranillo: Spain's iconic red grape. From Ribera del Duero to Toro, it yields concentrated wines. Explore its synonyms and unleash its prowess.
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Author
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More information
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