Chilean Wine

The arrival of Chilean wines in the established old world wine production caused a proper “terremoto”: Chile showed the world its wines can compete with the Super Tuscans and traditional Bordeaux wines at much more accessible prices.

Chile’s wine history

In the last 20 years Chile has explored areas outside of the traditional Maipo Valley and has moved to vineyards with cooler micro-climates closer to the coast like Casablanca and Colchagua. This led to new productions outside of the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon – like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and extraordinary blends like the Chardonnoir (Bodegas RE).

The arrival of Chilean wines in the established old world wine production caused a proper “terremoto”: Chile showed the world its wines can compete with the Super Tuscans and traditional Bordeaux wines at much more accessible prices.

Climate and Soil

When the old world came to Chile, the traditional winemakers from Italy and France immediately recognized Chile’s potential for its steady climate, quality of soil and unspoiled natural conditions. Due to its geography, Chile is much like an island which very much protects its flora & fauna. Therefore we can often find grape varieties back in Chile, which are now extinct in Europe due to the Phylloxera plague.

By the end of the 19th century the Phylloxera plague pretty much destroyed all of Europe’s wine grapes, most notably in France. An example of a grape variety that has been found back in Chile is the Carmenère grape in the Aquitania winery in Santiago.

In the 90s Chileans discovered the potential in the wine industry which led to an enthusiastic new generation of winemakers and viticulturists. Along with the more traditional buildings marked by its European influence of the wine experts from the Old world, a whole new wave of modern architecture has embarked upon the Chilean wine houses, with amazing creations like Viña Vik or Casa Lapostolle wineries.

Chile’s fast progress using new technologies applied to old winemaking traditions has made it possible to move around mass market labels and to create high level quality wines – unique to Chile.

Finesse, elegance, diversity, complexity & authenticity are the signature to Chile’s world class premium wines!

Winery Tours

Having that said our winery tours are one of the many tours we can recommend to get acquainted to the traditions of wine making and exploring the Chilean terroir! We offer day trips from Santiago as well as multi-day wine tours for a little romantic escape!