Wines from Chile

Winegrowing in Chile began with the arrival of the Spanish "conquistadors." The first vine was planted there in 1541 in Santiago. In the early 19th century, prominent Spanish families, taking advantage of the exceptional climatic conditions, began planting large vineyards to meet the ever-growing local demand. Around the mid-19th century, the French model—synonymous with quality—was brought in to help restructure the vineyards. Many grape varieties from Aquitaine were thus introduced. Viticulture, which is largely unregulated, produces wines of very contrasting qualities. However, since the early 1990s, Chilean winemakers have pursued a policy of improving their wines, introducing techniques that have proven successful elsewhere.

Chile is a vast country with varied climates depending on latitude. Thus, the north is hot, arid, and desert-like, the Central Valley enjoys a Mediterranean climate, and the south has an oceanic climate. There are generally seven main wine-growing regions with distinct characteristics: the Aconcagua, Casablanca, Maipo, Limari, Curico, Maule, and Itata valleys. Chile’s terroirs are ideally situated between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes mountain range to the east. The exceptional natural environment and climatic conditions particularly conducive to viticulture have notably fostered the growth of vineyards in the Central Valley. Discover the Las Ninas and Sena estates as well.

The grape varieties are of European origin. They have been spared from downy mildew and phylloxera and consist mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec for reds, and Sauvignon and Chardonnay for whites. Merlot, Cémillon, Riesling, Muscat, and Carménère are also found here, with the latter becoming a specialty of the country. The Païs grape variety, typical of Chile, is used for lower-quality local wines.

Also discover an original Chilean wine with the 2016 Las Ninas vintage.