A member of The Ashley Group, Michael Sordyl provides clients in Maumee, Ohio with dedicated advisory services that enable them to build secure financial futures. Michael Sordyl has a longstanding interest in travel, and enjoys sampling local food and wines in the regions he visits, from the Mediterranean to South America.
One country that Mr. Sordyl visited that surprises many as a wine producer is Ecuador, which has a half-dozen producers centered in the foothills of the Andes. Prominent among these is Chaupi Estancia Winery, situated in the Yaruqui Valley, less than 10 miles from the Equator, in the vicinity of the capital city, Quito.
The climate of the region, situated at an elevation of 2,400 meters, has been described as one of “perpetual spring.” Despite a lack of seasons, significant temperature variations exist between daytime and nighttime. The grapes grown represent sustained experiments, encompassing more than two dozen varieties, to determine which do best in this specific locale.
The resulting wines include a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meritage, with the latter featuring unique tropical flavors. The Alyce Grand Reserve combines a dozen types of grapes and is aged for more than a year in French oak barrels.
