Chile
Chile has been growing wine for centuries, with
Vitis Vinifera vines having been first brought to the country during the 1500s
by Spanish conquistadors who settled here during the colonisation of the
region. However, it was not until the 1800s that French wine varieties like
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Franc and Carmenere were introduced to Chile.
During the 1980s, there was a renaissance in
Chilean wine production when fermentation tanks of stainless steel were
introduced as well as oak barrels which began to be used for the aging process.
This led to a huge improvement in the quality of the local wine produced, and
the export trade grew dramatically. In 1995 there were only 12 wineries in
Chile, however just a decade later the numbers had grown to more than 70,
showing the level of interest in buying Chilean wines.
During the later half of the 20th
century, many French people moved to Chile and this led to an expansion in the
Chilean wine knowledge. Today, Chile is the world’s 5th biggest wine
exporter and the 7th biggest producer of fine wines thanks to the
climate which has often been described as being partway between that found in
California and that of France.
Some of the region’s most commonly found grape
varieties include Merlot, Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon, although there are
more than 20 different varieties of grape grown here and many of the nation’s
wineries are starting to experiment with the varieties they grow and use.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the country’s single most popular grape variety and
Chilean producers have their own distinct growing style, which results in a
wine that is easy to drink, with its soft tannins and mint, olive, smoke and
blackcurrant overtones. Sparkling wines are also made here, however they are not
yet well established.