Peach flesh, mint leaf, zingy grapefruit. Squeezed lemon, bright wildflowers, tart green apple…
Like most South American wine regions viticulture in Chile began in the 1500's when Spanish conquistadors brought and planted Vitis Vinifera. Production has continued uninterrupted since, and today Chile is the world's fifth largest wine exporting country. The landmass of Chile is relatively narrow yet long and hugs the coastline, and this significant maritime influence has proven invaluable in wine production. French grape varieties are prominent in Chile; some of the most popular being Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, and Cabernet Franc. The Chilean climate has been described as falling somewhere in between California and France, and unique geographical variations throughout the country allow a wide range of grape varieties to thrive here. The northern regions of Chile tend to be quite hot and dry, similar to Southern California, and the southern zones have cooler and wetter weather, similar to Northern California. Thanks to the Andes Mountains many parts of Chile experience significant diurnal temperature variation, which keeps acidity levels up. Soils in Chile vary by region, but range from from loam, clay, sand, and silt. Thanks the diverse geography, an ideal climate, and a newfound attention to quality, today Chile is one of the rising stars of the wine world.
Peach flesh, mint leaf, zingy grapefruit. Squeezed lemon, bright wildflowers, tart green apple…