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Chile Chile has some of the widest variations in rainfall and temperature of any wine region. Fortunately, the Incas created a network of canals and gullies to flood over 3 million acres of land and create perfect wine-growing conditions. It is one of the few wine-growing regions in the world where the vines can be planted on their own roots, that is, without the necessity of grafting onto phylloxera-resistant American rootstock.
Chile’s wine history dates back to the 16 th century, but started to really evolve in the mid-1800s after Chile won independence from Spain. The quality of wines changed dramatically in the mid-1980s, when chile began to aggressively develop its wine industry as a source of export income. Chile is home to the largest single wine estate in the world, owned by the Errázuriz family, but American and European interests (Kendall-Jackson and Rothschild families) have brought the latest winemaking technologies. Recently, the trend is away from quantity and more toward quality from smaller wine estates.
| Primary Grapes: |
País, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Carmenére, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Secondary Grapes: |
Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Riesling, Semillon |
| Production: |
160 million gallons |
Primary Wine
Region(s): |
Aconcagua, Casablance, Maipo, Rapel, Colchagua, Curicó, Maule |
| Premium Labels: |
Concha y Toro, Canepa, Carmen, Montes, Santa Rita, Villard, Vina Porta, and Torres, and Undurraga |
| Best Values: |
Concha y Toro, Montes, Los Vascos, and Santa Rita |
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