Chilean Wines

With excellent micro-climates, in-depth knowledge and determined winemakers, Chile has become, in less than twenty years, a must for the wine industry. on the world stage.

The first vines were planted by the priest Francisco de Carabantes in 1548 for the production of wine necessary for his cult. For a long time, the vines were maintained by farmers producing wine for their own consumption from an uninteresting but high-yielding red grape variety: the país.

In 1818, Chile gained its independence and transatlantic voyages favoured the arrival of French oenologists and grape varieties. The carménère became the flagship of Chilean viticulture. Long confused with merlot, it regained its true identity in 1994 thanks to DNA research.

Barely larger than the Bordeaux vineyard, it has grown by more than 40 % in ten years and has become the world's leading exporter after the countries of Europe. Its exceptional geographical location is ideal for the cultivation of vines and the production of terroir wines. The country benefits from generous sunshine tempered by the cool breezes blown by the Pacific and the softness that slides down from the Andes Cordillera at night.

Unlike Argentina, irrigation is not always necessary and the vineyards are particularly suited to organic farming. Chile is also home to the world's largest biodynamic estate, which covers almost 1,000 hectares in Colchagua.

5 AOC to start with :

- Maipo Valleys

- Colchagua

- Cachapoal

- Casablanca

- Maule