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History |
| The winemaking industry in Chile has been transformed in the last 25 years, with better vineyard management, irrigation technology and modern winery equipment. The first vines were brought to the country in the 1550s by the Spanish missionaries to make wine to celebrate the church sacraments. However, it was in the 1830s that wealthy Chilean landowners started bringing back French grape varieties such as Merlot and Chardonnay. These now form the backbone of vineyard plantings to this day. |
Vineyard location |
| The vineyards are mainly concentrated in the middle third of the country in an area around and to the south of the capital city of Santiago, between 30° and 40° latitude. And although latitude is a contributory factor to where vines are planted, the proximity of a vineyard to the mountains or the coast has an effect on style too. The foothills of the Andes provide ideal cool-climate growing conditions, while the cold Humboldt Current, which flows north from the Antarctic up the Pacific Ocean coast, provides a cooling effect on the climate wherever there is a break in the coastal mountain range. |
Site selection |
| During the last three decades, the rise of the oenologist (a qualified specialist in winemaking) has had an important part to play in the development of Chilean winemaking. One of the benefits of their knowledge is site selection, deciding where each variety grows best and replanting where necessary. |
Climate |
| Chile has a ‘Mediterranean’ climate, with a long, dry, sunny summers and temperatures approaching 30°C. Nighttime temperatures often plummet to less than 10°C and this daily variation provides a long growing season (up to a month longer than France) and allows the flavours to develop to a new dimension. The wide variation in temperature also preserves acidity. Irrigation, using beautifully pure water flowing from the snow-capped Andes, provides the perfect solution where rainfall is insufficient. This combination of sun, moderate heat and easily obtainable water are optimum conditions for growing vines and they are the envy of producers worldwide.
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Varieties |
| There are over 110,000 hectares of vines in Chile and Cabernet Sauvignon
makes up a third of this. Chile is renowned for its Merlot
too, though as late as the 1990s it was realised that many Merlot vines were in fact Carmenère, a red grape originally grown in Bordeaux. Carmenère is now almost unique to Chile and is its signature grape variety. Other red varieties include Syrah / Shiraz and Pinot Noir – both are already making a name for themselves. Three quarters of production is red wine, though its white wines are renowned too. Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are forging a real reputation for themselves and aromatic varieties such as Gewürztraminer and Viognier are now being planted in the south with great success.
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Organic viticulture |
| Chile has always been resistant to phylloxera (a disease that destroyed much of France’s and North America’s vineyards in the 19th century). Most of the world’s vines are grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstocks but Chilean vines usually grow on their own roots and this contributes to the high quality of the grapes. The vineyards are typically pest-free, eliminating the need for pesticides. Moreover, the fertile soils reduce dependence on fertilisers resulting in wines with pure fruit flavours. |
Region by region |
Chilean vineyards can be divided into a series of valleys that run from the Andes to the Pacific. Each one has unique characteristics and specialises in grape varieties most suited to its climate and location...
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Aconcagua Valley
The Aconcagua Valley is a small region dominated by Mount Aconcagua. At over 22,000 feet high it’s the tallest mountain anywhere in America. Best known for its reds, plantings of Syrah / Shiraz are on the increase. The warm spring and long, dry autumn provide an extended ‘hang time’ (the length of time the grape stays on the vine) and this in turn usually produce wines that are more complex.
Casablanca ValleyClose to the coast and exposed to the cold Humboldt Current, the Casablanca Valley is a cool-climate region that focuses on Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The moderate average temperatures are reflected in the freshness of wines like Montes Reserve Sauvignon Blanc that utilises the best grapes from prime vineyards to produce an intense but delicate style. The cool climate also emphasises the citrus fruit flavours of Carmen Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay, which also benefits from eight months in toasty oak to add yet another flavour dimension.
LeydaSouth of the Casablanca Valley is a tiny area called Leyda, Chile’s newest winegrowing region. The first commercial vines were planted in the late 1990s and the first harvest was as recent as 2001. It’s just 12km from the coast and even cooler than the Casablanca Valley. The constant sea breeze blows inland and dries the grapes slightly, adding to their concentration. Leyda has quickly established a glowing reputation for high quality Sauvignon Blanc.
Maipo ValleyThe Maipo Valley surrounds Santiago and is the historical home of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s often compared to the Médoc area of Bordeaux, with half of the vineyards planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder with Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. A typical Maipo wine is Carmen Nativa Cabernet Sauvignon. It has the usual blackcurrant flavours of Cabernet Sauvignon but with hints of mint and eucalyptus, on the nose and on the palate, a characteristic of this variety when grown in Maipo.
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Rapel Valley
The Rapel Valley further divides into the Cachapoal and Colchagua Valleys and is the heart of Chile’s premium winegrowing regions. Several distinct styles of red wine are produced here. Cono Sur Pinot Noir is a New World style Pinot that can only be described as outstanding value, with its stunning fresh strawberry fragrance and matching fruit flavours. Bordeaux styles of red, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère grapes, are also produced here.
Colchagua Valley
Two thirds of Rapel Valley vineyards are planted in the Colchagua Valley . New World style reds are produced here, mainly from Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mont Gras Carmenère Reserva is an excellent value, medium bodied, juicy red that has depth and complexity, made in an easy-drinking style. Rhône-style reds made from Syrah (Shiraz) are also produced here, like Montes Alpha Syrah, which comes from the Apalta sub-region in the heart of the valley, arguably the site of the best vineyards in the whole country. Similar in style to Syrahs from the northern Rhône, it’s an excellent example of what Chile can achieve.
Curicó Valley
Most of Chile’s best-known wineries can be found in the Curicó Valley. The flat terrain is easy to harvest, the soils are well-drained and water for irrigation is abundant, so yields are higher than elsewhere in Chile. There’s great diversity too, from Cabernet Sauvignon to excellent value Sauvignon Blanc. One of the more famous wineries is Torres. Back in 1979 Miguel Torres, a renowned Spanish producer, bought the first of several vineyards in the Curicó Valley. He repeated his Spanish success of planting French grape varieties in new locations and his Torres San Medin Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé is proof of this. It’s a delicious dry rosé made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with an eye-catching pink hue, summer fruit aromas and a refreshing flavour.
Maule Valley
Chile’s largest wine region is the Maule Valley. It’s geographically diverse, with three sub-regions and an undulating valley floor. Historically, the most commonly planted grape here was País (also known as Mission), which was brought over by the Spanish. However, País is gradually being replaced by the classic French varieties. Some wines may be labelled with the geographical origin of ‘Central Valley’. This describes the area from the Maipo Valley to the Maule Valley and may include grapes from more than one region.
Bío Bío Valley
This up-and-coming area has been likened to northern France regarding its climate. Annual rainfall (over 1300mm) is higher than other Chilean wine regions (no need for irrigation) and the cooler temperatures as a result of its southerly location ripen the fruit slowly. The harvest is usually three weeks later than the Maipo Valley. The comparisons with northern France extend to the grape varieties being planted, including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, all of them found in Alsace or Burgundy.
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| Cono Sur Merlot Reserve 2005/06 Colchagua Valley, Chile |
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Errazuriz Estate Shiraz, Aconcagua Valley |
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Mont Gras Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah Reserva, Colchagua Valley |
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Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley |
| A little Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah fill out the sweet plummy Merlot fruit, aged gracefully in new oak barrels. Shows its best when decanted an hour or so before drinking. Best matched with roast beef or osso buco, or wait till barbecue time!
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Errazuriz has an excellent reputation for Chilean wine and this Shiraz is not exception. Exclusive to Waitrose in the supermarkets, this award-winning wine is versatile enough for its rich, spicy flavours to be enjoyed on its own or with a juicy peppered steak. |
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A delicious 50/50 blend of prime fruit rounded off in a mixture of new French and American wood. Full bodied and a great match for rich meat dishes. |
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Always consistent, this is superb value for money and will not let you down. Liquorice, cassis, deep red fruits and the classic terroir of Chile – earthiness, even a slightly burnt character – come through in this excellent wine. |
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| Errazuriz Max Reserva Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley |
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Cono Sur Gewürztraminer, Bío Bío Valley |
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Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley |
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Santa Rita Floresta Sauvignon Blanc Leyda |
| An elegant wine made from low-vigour Chardonnay vines planted in Errazuriz's La Escultura ranch. A high percentage of this wine was matured in French oak barrels for seven months. Perfect with creamy chicken dishes or roast turkey. |
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This is a great example of a Gewürztraminer with plenty of tropical fruit flavours. It’s wonderfully aromatic with plenty of body. From an up-and-coming region in southern Chile, where the cooler climate is well suited to producing aromatic whites. |
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Amazing mix of tropical fruit and creamy oak, with an aroma that’s exhilarating on the nose and sublime on the palate; it’s not over-oaked either. Made by one of Chile’s best wine making concerns, under the watchful eye of chief oenologist Marcelo Papa. |
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A special parcel of Sauvignon Blanc from a new region in Chile called Leyda. Very fresh, with intense floral and citrus fruit flavours and a long finish. Serve with grilled fish, oysters, crab, light poultry meats or veal.
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