Chile boasts intense geographic diversity, with one of the world’s best wine terroirs surrounded on all sides by mountains, desert, and ocean. It’s these geographic extremes that have made Chile one of the world’s leading ecotourism and adventure destinations, as well as one of the world’s best countries for wine.
Not just any wine, however. Chile’s Wine Sustainability Code ensures more than 80% of Chilean wine exports are produced using sustainable methods, creating bold, fruity reds and whites with a unique minerality that have captured the taste buds of wine lovers around the world.
Central Chile has been producing wine since the 16th century, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that Chilean wines started to dance across tables worldwide, and the country rose to become the world’s seventh largest wine producer. The secret to Central Chile’s success? The Atacama Desert to the north, the Andes to the east, Patagonia to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west, each providing a natural barrier to pests, allowing Chilean vineyards to favour an organic, sustainable approach to winemaking.
The unique star of Chilean wines is Carmenère. This big and fruity red first arrived in Chile from Bordeaux in the 19th century. Today, it has almost vanished from Europe, but over 8,000 hectares are devoted to the grape across Central Chile, making it a must-try while in Chile. Still, it’s only the start of Chile’s wine production. Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are the most popular varieties grown here, while Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Malbec all thrive in Chile’s uniquely protected, new world, cold climate terroir.
Among Chile’s most successful wine regions are the Colchagua and Casablanca valleys, supporting some of its most prestigious wineries including VIK, Clos Apalta, Viu Manent, and Matetic. A visit to any of these wineries is a feast for every sense. While your taste buds luxuriate in the finest organic Carmenère or Sauvignon Blanc, admire architecture inspired by masters such as Frank Gehry and ponder the beauty of the Andes and the adventures promised just beyond their peaks.
Discover Chile on a custom vacation today.
By Robert Miller
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