Wine Abroad: Chile

Despite a winemaking tradition that dates back 500 years, Chile is still a burgeoning region evolving to meet the needs of today’s competitive wine market. Modern techniques and technology, such as stainless steel tanks and gravity-flow design mechanics, were incorporated en masse in the 1990s.

However, Chile’s proximity to its vinous neighbor, Argentina, has helped develop the small country’s wine tourism. And its climatic and geographic diversity is the envy of viticulturists. Chile is 2,600 miles long and 110 miles wide. In that long and skinny space, it encompasses the Atacama Desert (the driest in the world), the wonders of Patagonia, the ice of Antarctica and the influences of the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean.

Currently, there are 13 major wine regions in Chile. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted grape. Together with Sauvignon Blanc and Carmenere, a variant of Merlot, it receives the most attention from wine enthusiasts outside of Chile. The northernmost Elqui Valley, where elevation reaches 6,500 feet, is gaining notoriety for fresh and spicy Syrahs – the result of high altitude, cool climate and harsh, mountainous conditions.

The Colchagua Valley, one of the largest regions, is more influenced by the Coastal Range than the Andes Mountains and is home to some of the finest producers of Chilean red wines, including rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Syrah and Malbec. The region is known for its organic and biodynamic farming, and many long-time grape growers have established their own wineries and sell wines under their own labels in this part of Chile.

Noteworthy producers: Apalta, Ninquen, Santa Rita, Montes.