Chile
Chile has a long history of wine making, going back to the conquistadores who brought grape vines with them in the mid 16th Century and planted vineyards. In the mid 18th century, French varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were introduced. However, government decrees prohibited the planting of new vineyards between 1938 and 1974.
Much low quality wine has historically been produced (often from table grapes such as sultanas) and producers have traditionally been more interested in quantity than quality. However, in the early 1980s a renaissance began with the introduction of stainless steel fermenters and the use of oak barrels for ageing. Subsequently, the export business grew very quickly and large amounts of quality wines were produced. The number of wineries has grown from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005. Chile is now the fourth largest exporter of wines to the United States.
The climate has been described as midway between that of California and France. The most common grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère, which is often regarded as perhaps the most suitable grape for the Chilean climate.
Quality wines
In international competitions, Chilean wines have proven to be among the best in the world. For example, in the Berlin Wine Tasting of 2004, 36 European experts blind tasted wines from two vintages each of eight top wines from France, Italy and Chile. The first and second place wines were two Cabernet-based reds from Chile: Vinedo Chadwick 2000 and Sena 2001. They outscored two of Bordeaux`s best, Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Margaux.
Trivia
Chile is entirely free of Phylloxera, so its vitis vinifera grape vines do not need to be grafted.
Regions
In December 1994, the Republic of Chile defined the following viticultural regions, also known as viticultural zones or appellations:
Viticultural Region of Atacama, within the III Administrative Region. Within it are two subregions, the Copiapó Valley and the Huasco Valley, both of which are coterminous with the provinces of the same names.
Viticultural Region of Coquimbo, within the IV Administrative Region. It has three subregions: Elqui Valley, Limarí Valley, and the Choapa Valley. All subregions are coterminous with the provinces of the same names.
Viticultural Region of Aconcagua, within the V Administrative Region. It includes two subregions, the Valley of Aconcagua and the Valley of Casablanca, Chile. The Aconcagua Valley is coterminous with the province of that name. The Casablanca Valley is coterminous with the comuna of that name.
Viticultural Region of the Central Valley, which spans the VI and VII Administrative Regions and the Administrative Metropolitan Region. Within it are four subregions: the Maipo Valley, the Rapel Valley, the Curicó Valley and the Maule Valley.
Viticultural Region of the South, within the VIII Administrative Region. Two subregions are included: Itata Valley and Bío-Bío Valley.
This article is based entirely or in part on the
Chile wikipedia article
and is licenced under the terms of the
GNU Free Documentation Licence.
Contact
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UK Channel Islands
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In this categoryAraucano Carmenere Rosado 2005
The Carmeniere grape was only recently rediscovered in Chile, and bears a resemblance to Merlot. It is the first Carmeniere rosé to be introduced into the Channel Islands. It has a brilliant rosé colour, and very fruity aromas of red berries. The flavour has a delicious crisp freshness with redcurrants and blackcurrants. A mouthwatering rosé, encourages a second
glass and more! [read on...]
A B V: 13.5% Vintage: 2005 Color: rose Country: Chile Region: Valparaiso Code: 65979
Araucano Chardonnay 2006
A careful blend of partly barrel-fermented wine and partial malolactic fermentation to create a complex wine half way between a New World style CHardonnay and a classic Chablis. [read on...]
A B V: 13% Vintage: 2006 Color: unspecifie Country: Chile Code: 66195
Araucano Sauvignon Blanc 2008
From the Casablanca region in Chile, this Sauvignon Blanc has tropical fruit aromas of mango and lychee. A richly flavoured wine that gives great pleasure now established as a firm favourite. [read on...]
A B V: 13.5% Vintage: 2008 Color: white Country: Chile Code: 72972
Columbine Reserve Chardonnay 2006
The fruit was processed naturally with part of the harvest pressed in complete bunches and part de-stemmed. The juice was fermented in French oak casks,batonaged and matured for 11 months. The aromas are delicate with hints of citrus fruits, peaches and hazelnuts. Classic chardonnay with gre. [read on...]
A B V: 14% Vintage: 2006 Color: white Country: Chile Code: 70843
Gran Araucano Cabernet Sauvignon 03
Produced from very old Cabernet Sauvignon vines near Santa Cruz. The grape bundles are hand-picked into small baskets and rushed to winery so that they don`t suffer any degradation. It has an impressive crimson colour with a bouquet that expresses strong blackcurrant, red fruits and vanilla. The wine is rich on the palate with good tight faint tannins. Certainly an outstanding wine. [read on...]
Vintage: 2003 Color: Country: Chile Code: 66117
Hacienda Araucano Pinot Noir 2008
Pinot Noir, the noble red grape variety used to produce the famous Cote d'Or wines in Burgundy is among the most delicate of varieties. The summer of 2008 in Chile was hot and dry, cooling in April during the harvest - very good conditions for producing excellent quality. It has a good depth of colour for Pinot Noir, frank, fruity and aromatic intensity of fresh mulberries, redcurrants and cherries. The flavour is round and voluptuous with silky tannins with notes of flowers and a pleasing finish. [read on...]
A B V: 14.5% Vintage: 2008 Color: red Country: Chile Code: 73059
Mirador Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Produced from grapes grown in the Casablanca Valley, a region ideally suited to the Sauvignoin grape. This wine is characterised with citric aromas mixed with notes of tropical fruits and herbs which follow on to the palate with hints of gooseberries and asparagus interlaced with acidity giving a fresh, balanced, structured and persistent flavour. [read on...]
A B V: 13% Vintage: 2007 Color: white Country: Chile Code: 70809
Santa Digna Chardonnay 2002
Produced from vines grown in the Rio Claro area of Curico, which enjoys a cooler climate than the central valley. It displays a brilliant yellow colour with green hues, has a strong varietal aroma - mango and apricot - enhanced by vanilla and coconut flavours contributed by the American oak casks in which the wine was matured. The style is typical of good Burgundy. [read on...]
A B V: 13.5% Vintage: 2002 Color: Country: Chile Code: 57342
Santa Digna Sauvignon 2007
This Sauvignon blanc was produced from vines grown near the Guaiquillo river. It has an opulent bouquet of ripe tropical fruits over a background of apple and fennel. The palate is silky and intense with a crispness that balances the characteristic varietal aromas. [read on...]
A B V: 13% Vintage: 2007 Color: white Country: Chile Code: 69827
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