Stage 3
Wines by Region
Chile
Chile has a climate that provides near perfect growing conditions for vines. It is a hot and dry country but the heat is mitigated by the sea breezes and water is plentiful from the Andes. Phylloxera has never entered the country and there are strict quarantine rules to ensure it does not. It is a long narrow country running down the west coast of South America with the Andes to the east and the Pacific to the west.
Chile has planted a great many French grape varieties and mainly produced single varietal wines rather than blends. It is a good source of low priced bulk produced wines but also produces some premium quality wines. There was some confusion in the some of the vineyards and many Merlot vines have turned out to be Carmenère, which is a very old variety from Bordeaux. Pinot Noir is grown in some of the cooler areas such as Casablanca Valley, which produces wines that have flavours of strawberry jam.
Chile produces some premium quality Cabernet Sauvignon wines as either varietals or blended with Merlot or Carmenère. The best regions for this grape are in the Central Valley especially Maipo Valley close to Santiago. White wines are mainly made with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and the best examples are grown in cooler coastal regions or at altitude.
Casablanca Valley is one of the coolest regions as it is near to the coast and receives cool morning fog. These conditions allow slow ripening which allows fruit flavours and acids to build up and produce wines with excellent aromas. Chardonnay vines dominate and Pinot Noir is also grown here. Some excellent Sauvignon Blanc wines are emerging from this area.
Central Valley includes the regions of Maipo, Rapel, Curico and Maule Valleys. Maipo is the most famous of these and lies south of the capitol Santiago. Chardonnay is the most planted white grape here an barrel fermentation and barrel aging are popular which produce wines with banana and melon flavours.