Chilean wine

The viticulture in Chile has a long tradition. The unique climatic conditions of the country during the day warm and summer night temperatures of sometimes less than 10 degrees provide ideal growing conditions for powerful complex wines that will bring in more recently even the French in distress, due to the cooler location and the more expensive labor problems with the competitiveness feel on the world market. Already the Spanish conquerors brought viticulture to South America. Already in the middle of the 16th century were planted the first vines in Chile. The first varieties were originating from Spain Albilho, Moscatel, País ( Negra Peruana ) and Torontel. According to a tradition of privateer Sir Francis Drake is said to have hijacked a ship in 1578 on his voyage around the world that would take 1770 bottles of wine from Chile to Peru - an indication that even at that time wine was exported from Chile.

Description

The modern Chilean viticulture began as the mid-19th century migrated French winemakers and their varieties, such as the Cabernet Sauvignon brought with them.

As a typical Chilean, the old Bordeaux grape Carmenere. In no region of the world, this grape is grown as a professional and comprehensive in Chile. With Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and other well-known varieties such as Pinot Noir, Carmenere is one of the plants that are reimported world: Chile was spared in the 19th century by the great phylloxera plague due to geographical isolation, which is why the derivatives, which have emerged from old intact Bordeaux vines are particularly sought after. Therefore, entire regions of Chile were re-imported varieties after the eradication Even after France.

Chile is the only country that has been spared the phylloxera world. Also downy mildew has not yet occurred in Chile. Therefore, fewer chemicals are used, and on the refinement of the vine plants can be completely omitted.

The mid-80s was the wine export Chile marginal. Although in the country since the colonial era wine is grown and vinified, the quality was not previously on the world market level. Thus, Chile exported in 1985 wine for just 10 million U.S. dollars. 13 years later, there were already 550 million launch of the boom was in 1981, when the Spanish company Miguel Torres a huge winery stamped in the Central Valley near Curico from the ground. It was followed by numerous foreign investors, including Rothschild, Larose Trintaudon, Grand Marnier, Robert Mondavi and the Christian Brothers. Everything in Bordeaux has a name that is currently testing shopping in Chile and to develop terroir.

Blend

The Chilean vineyards were replanted in recent years large areas with higher quality varieties. The Pais, the 1985 was still to be found on 44 % of the area, it goes back more and more. This little-noticed grape varieties were also planted in Chile so far, such as Syrah. Other varieties with a percent crop area and more in 2004 Moscatel Alejandria (white, 5.39% ) and Tintoreras (red, 2.49% ). Other growing areas for the production of Pisco and table grapes from a total of 63,000 ha are not included in the table.

Regions

Due to its large north - south extent Chile has different climate zones. Viticulture therefore focuses on four wine regions and their sub- regions located between the 30th and the 38th parallel.

  • Valle del Elqui ( Elqui Valley )
  • Valle de Limarí
  • Valle de Choapa
  • Valle del Aconcagua
  • Valle de Casablanca
  • Valle de San Antonio
  • Valle del Maipo
  • Valle de Rapel
  • Valle de Curico
  • Valle del Maule
  • Valle del Itata
  • Valle del Bío -Bío
  • Valle del Malleco

As the best wine-growing region is considered Maipo, about 40 kilometers south of the capital Santiago de Chile. Very good red wines come from the south in the Rapel Valley. In the Maule Region in the south of the red variety is cultivated mainly Pais. The best white wines from the Chardonnay and Sauvignon is the area of ​​Casablanca, near the Pacific coast.

History of Chile Chilean Central Valley Cabernet Franc
815683
de