In a previous Reader’s Mail article published on The Costa Rica Star, we answered a question regarding the importation of wine and other products for the purpose of tasting and sampling. On that article, we mentioned that the famed California winemaker Kerry Damskey was studying the possibility of choosing a high-altitude region to grow quality grapes. According to wine industry journal Decanter, the plan is sailing along.

Late last year, Damskey planted four hectares of Grenache, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah grapes in Copey, a high-altitude location in the San Jose province, in the Dota canton. This rural region, which has been electrified since 1969, served as the proving grounds for a sneakernet; a method of delivering last-mile information technology taking advantage of human bandwidth. The Costa Rica Star has also written about sneakernets in Dota in the past.

The land is bordered by the cantons of Perez Zeledon, Tarrazu and El Guarco. The altitude is higher than 1,800 meters. The canton was originally inhabited by the Huetar indigenous people. Copey is mostly known as a coffee-growing region that gets about 51,435 mm of rainfall each year.

Damskey has admitted that his Costa Rica wine project is challenging, but then again he has succeeded in Nashik, India in the past. He is confident that Copey is comparable to the California’s Napa Valley -at a considerably higher altitude.

In the future, different grapes including Merlot and Zinfandel will be planted as well. The first vintage is expected in 2015. This is the first major step in building a viticultural heritage in Costa Rica. There is no doubt that Ticos are thirsty for quality wines, and a domestic harvest lovingly bottled locally would be perfect to satiate their curious palates.