Wines from Chile

Viticulture in Chile began with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. The first vine was planted in Santiago in 1541. At the beginning of the 19th century, prominent Spanish families took advantage of the exceptional climate conditions and began planting large vineyards to meet the ever-growing local demand. In the mid-19th century, the French model, synonymous with quality, was called upon to help restructure the vineyards. Many Aquitaine grape varieties were thus introduced. Viticulture, which is not highly regulated, produces wines of very contrasting qualities. However, since the early 1990s, Chilean winegrowers have been pursuing a policy of improving their wine, with the introduction of techniques that have proven their worth elsewhere.

Chile is a very spread-out country with varied climates depending on the latitude. The north is hot, arid, and desert-like, the Central Valley enjoys a Mediterranean climate, and the south has an oceanic climate. There are usually seven main wine-growing regions with different characteristics: the Aconcagua, Casablanca, Maipo, Limari, Curico, Maule, and Itata valleys. Chile's terroirs are favorably located 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 favored the development of vineyards in the Central Valley. Discover also the Las Ninas and Sena estates.

The grape varieties are of European origin. They escaped mildew and phylloxera and are mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec for the reds, and Sauvignon and Chardonnay for the whites. There are also Merlot, Cémillon, Riesling, Muscat, and Carménère, the latter tending to become a specialty of the country. The Païs grape variety, typically Chilean, is used for local productions of lower quality.

Discover another original Chilean wine with the Las Ninas 2016 vintage.