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Chile

A phylloxera-free strip of land between the Andes and the Pacific.

Wine history

Conquistadors planted vines in the 1550s, and in the nineteenth century Chilean growers imported Bordeaux cuttings — including Carmenère, which was believed extinct in France until it was identified in Chile in 1994. Natural barriers have kept the vineyards free of phylloxera, so vines grow on their own roots.

Major Wine Regions

Maipo Valley
Colchagua
Casablanca Valley
Limarí
Itata

Important Grape Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon
Carmenère
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
País

Major Wine Styles

Cassis-driven Maipo Cabernet
Herbal, smoky Carmenère
Cool coastal Sauvignon Blanc

Food Pairings

Grilled beef
Pastel de choclo
Ceviche
Roast pork
Empanadas

Notable wines

Almaviva
Viñedo Chadwick
Clos Apalta
Don Melchor

Recognisable brands

Concha y Toro
Errázuriz
Montes
Casillero del Diablo
Santa Rita