We first met Polkura Proprietor/Winemaker Sven Bruchfeld on a trip to Chile not long before the global pandemic shut down the world in terms of travel. We recently sat down with him again (virtually) and covered everything from Harvest 2021, to dry farming (combined with creative irrigation techniques), the purpose behind MOVI (the Movement of Independent Vintners) and what he’s working on next. Click on the video below for the full interview:
Sven started Polkura with his university friend Gonzalo Munoz. In 1998, at a tasting of different Syrah near Narbonne in Southern France, the pair realized that this was a grape variety they both wanted to do something with.
Chris, Sven & Ally
When they returned to Chile, they began their search for land that would be suitable for planting grapes that could express their shared vision of what Syrah should be. In 2002, they found and acquired the site that is now the Polkura vineyard. The name Polkura is a Mapuche word (the local indigenous language) that means yellow stones, the type of granite found strewn amongst the soil on this rocky hillside vineyard.
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*Video editing by Kara Byrne*
May 3, 2021
What an absolutely fascinating interview. I loved your previous piece on Polkura and this just added to my interest in Polkura and other small producers in Chile. He is fascinating and what a story.
May 3, 2021
Robin, you would absolutely love Sven and his wines. The property is stunning and well worth a visit. We hope you get a chance to visit the region someday, you’d be in wine heaven!