Chilean wines offer quality and good price
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Diverse soil and climate, innovative viticulture and competitive pricing make Chilean wine a top option of wine lovers looking for a good deal.
“Chilean wine distinguishes itself through its lack of vine pests, especially free of phylloxera. Its winemaking style is deeply influenced by France. Chile has now become a prime source of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, very price competitive,” said Mei Ningbo, editor-in-chief of Vinehoo, at last week’s Top Wines of Chile gala wine dinner in Shanghai.
Being free of phylloxera — a sap-sucking pest — increases the number of old vines, which imparts good concentration to local wine, Mei added.
The history of making wine in Chile can be traced back to the 1550s, when Spanish settlers imported vines. But it wasn’t until the 1990s that the country took a leading position in the New World wine business, as local wineries started aggressively exporting. Big names in French wine, including Chateau Lafite Rothschild, have been overseeing some Chilean wineries, giving Chilean wine more complexity and elegance.
Chile benefits from its distinctive geology, envied by many Old World wine countries. Most are produced in the Central Valley, which enjoys a continental climate with a dry and warm summer. Water from the melted snow of the Andes Mountains complements their natural drainage. Such an environment gives their grapes good acidity and color.
Maipo, Rapel and Maule are three valleys that are the most famous production sub-regions. Maipo has some of the most coveted vineyards due to its closeness to Santiago, Chile’s capital and its center of wealth. The Rapel valley, south of Maipo, is known for its concentrated quality reds.
Red grapes dominate Chilean winemaking. Cabernet Sauvignon plays a key role, which is made into a lush, exuberant and fruity wine. Merlot is “promising,” said Jancis Robinson, the renown wine critic. The local Carmenere grape is said to be an ancient Bordeaux variety now rare in France. That grape gives wines medium body, a gentle taste and also notes of red fruits and spices.
Local wine producers seem more innovative than those in the Old World, daring to try new techniques. Traditional flooding irrigation, which may lead to uneven drainage, is gradually being replaced by drip irrigation, which controls the amount of water to individual plants precisely.
Some winemakers also are trying organic and biodynamic wines, which are a harder sell in the comparatively conservative Old World. Biodynamics uses methods to support self-sustaining agriculture.
Many wine educators encourage wine lovers to start learning about Chilean wine because it’s easy to drink, straightforward and most importantly, worth the price.
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