Shaped like craggy chilly quite literally, this South American country belies its modest size with a sheer and impressive diversity of vineyards and wine styles. Chile produces many interesting wine styles on a variety of locations ranging from austere interiors to windswept coast. Central Valley is Chilean wine’s beating heart, concentrating most of the country’s wineries that bottle superb Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.
San Antonio on the southern coast has vineyards that look similar to Champagne and produce the country’s best lots of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Known for producing wines of excellent value for money, Chile’s ambition now extends to producing high quality, barrel aged single estate wines and blends.
key regions
key regions
Central Valley – Chile might not be the largest wine producing country but can lay claim to containing one of the new world’s largest wine regions. Most of Chile’s sought after regions are bunched together in the Central Valley which is the vinous equivalent of Hollywood Boulevard accounting for 75 per cent of Chile’s vineyards. It is watered by Maule river in the south and Maipo in the north.
The likes of Maule, Maipo, Curio and Rapel comprise the famous clutch that add up to this top of mind Chilean wine region. Central Valley makes pretty much all styles and blends Chile is internationally lauded for. Its Cabernet Carmenere blend and Syrah have volubly announced Chile’s place high in the pecking order for fine wines.
Colchagua Valley – Colchagua Valley is a standout region from amongst the many that dot Chile’s cavernous Central Valley. Colchagua’s vineyards sit between the Coastal Range in the west and the Andes Mountains and are recognised for producing a range of full bodied red wine ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah to the locally popular Carmenere. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are also planted near to the coast, given its cooling influence. Wine Enthusiast Magazine recognised Colchagua Valley as the World’s Best Wine Region in 2005
San Antonio – With vineyards almost identical to Champagne, set against the gorgeous background of the raging Pacific ocean, there is so much to like about San Antonio. The region is still relatively young but has quickly earned repute for making respectable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that respond well to cool temperatures and plentiful oceanic winds, getting enough time to ripen and evolve elegant character that make for some of South America’s most exciting cool climate ferments.
key grapes
key grapesChilean Chardonnay has surprised many critics with a pleasantly fruity palate and lively acidity, adapting well to Central Valley’s dry climate, especially in Colchagua and the coastal reaches of San Antonio. Barrel aged Chardonnay out of Chile has won accolades and commands top dollar.
Sauvignon Blanc , much like Chardonnay, grows well in and around the Chilean coast yielding easy drinking, citrusy styles with generous acidity and touch of herbs. Leyda Valley and Casablanca are sought after for their crisp Sav Blancs as is Colchagua for a more vigorous warm climate style.
Cab is king in Chile which locals would smilingly confirm. Cabernet Sauvignon has lifted Chile to elite levels with stellar balance of fruit and tannin. The Chilean expression is rich and generous in red fruit and spice with the promise of ageing well. Central Valley is a gold mine of delectable Chilean Cabernet that never runs out.
Who would’ve thought that Carmenere which never got in Bordeaux (where it’s from) would become a wine of national importance in Chile. The true story of Carmenere being mistaken as Merlot in Chile of the early 1990’s still draws a chuckle though one sip of a barrel aged blend of Cabernet and Carmenere will have no one laughing anymore.
Our Handpicked Wineries
Our Handpicked Wineries
