Chile
Chilean Wines
Imagine Chile - a very, very long thin country sandwiched between the vast Pacific and the high Andes.
Think north - the arid Atacama desert; and think south - Patagonia, running all the way down to Cape Horn: north = hot, south = freezing! Given that Chile’s vineyards stretch for over 1,200 miles from north to south, one might therefore reasonably assume that vineyards in the north, nearer the Equator, will be hot; and those in the rainy south will be cool; and to some extent that is true. But the real picture is much more complicated.
First, coastal vineyards are cool. The Humboldt current, which comes up from the Antarctic, brings not just cool maritime air but thick cloud and sea fogs, so that even as far north as Limarí the vineyards are usually under cloud until noon. Second, there are cooling down-drafts from the snow-capped Andes, bringing cooler temperatures to the vineyards on the east.
The first coastal region to be developed for whites was Casablanca in the 1990s. More recently Chilean growers have begun to focus on the cool-climate sites up and down the coast and are beginning to climb the mountains too. Whites in particular have benefited accordingly, so now we ship zingy Sauvignon Blancs from coastal Casablanca and Leyda, and brilliant Chardonnay from Aconcagua Costa, Itata and Malleco in the far south
The wine scene in Chile is fast moving too - so we also offer examples of Viognier, Riesling; plus that Chilean speciality, Sauvignon Gris, a grape related to Sauvignon Blanc but offering more exotic fruit flavours.
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Chile
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Apaltagua, Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, San Antonio Valley, 2019 (Screwcap)
“From vineyards across the rolling hills of San Antonio, just 12 kilometres from the cool Pacific, south of Casablanca. Brilliant value, combining...”
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Apaltagua, Riesling Reserva, Curicó Valley, 2018 (Screwcap)
“This is surprisingly correct, dry and classy, showing that the Chileans are mastering coolish climate Riesling as they have Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot...”
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Errazuriz, Syrah, Aconcagua Costa 2016
“The Aconcagua Costa Syrah may be the poor relation of the superb Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Francesco Baettig's team at Errazuruz coax from the...”
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Los Seduras, Sauvignon Blanc, Valle Central, Chile, 2019 (Screwcap)
“The latest vintage of this SB, to be applauded for its typicity to the grape variety at a fair price. Bright, crisp and fruity; a lightly tropical...”
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Karu, Chardonnay, Valle Central, 2019 (Screwcap)
“Crafted by the winemaking team at Vina Emiliana, this is a well-made, ripe, pineapple-accented Chardonnay. Now-2022”
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Apaltagua, Reserva Pinot Gris, San Antonio, 2019
“From recently planted vineyards in the coastal mountains near the cool Pacific, this is a big step up on cheap Italian Pinot Grigio; and shows how...”
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