2. • Not for Profit trade organization that
promotes Chilean wines around the
world
• Learn more about Chile!
• www.winesofchile.org
• facebook.com/WinesOfChile
• twitter.com/drinkchile
Wines of Chile
3. • Learn a bit about Chile and
what’s happening in the wine
industry
• Discover the diversity of our
wines and terroirs
• Taste 6 wines from 3 valleys
• Enjoy tremendous quality and
value
Today
4. Quick Facts
• 2x size of California
• 3000 miles of coastline; approx. 100
miles wide
• Population: 15.5 million - 0ver 5
million live in the capital, Santiago
• Principal exports: copper, fish, fresh
fruit and wine
• 4th largest exporter of wines to the
US
8. • 16th Century - Vines brought to
Chile by the Spanish
• 1850’s - French vitis vinifera brought
to Chile
• 1860’s - Phylloxera destroys
European wine stock
• 1938 to 1974 - New plantings and
technology banned
• 1994 - Carmenere re-discovered at
Carmen
• Wine Revolution begins!
Wine History
9. • 1979 - Miguel Torres brings temperature
controlled fermentation tanks and clonal
selections to Curicó Valley
• 1980’s - Search for extreme coastal and Andean
foothill vineyards begins
• 1982 - Pablo Morandé plants in cool and windy
Casablanca after visiting Carneros
• 1990’s - New and exciting regions are discovered
and planted throughout the country
• 1993 - Limarí Valley
• 1993 - Bio Bio Valley
• 1995 - Malleco Valley
• 1997 - Elqui Valley
• 1998 - San Antonio Valley
Age of the Terrior Hunter
10. • Major farming changes in last two decades
• Experimentation with new clones and
rootstocks
• Drip irrigation
• Hillside plantings
• Canopy management
• High density planting
• Organic, biodynamic and sustainable
practices
• Satellite photos to track vigor
• Multiple passthroughs during harvest
• New valleys being sought out
New Viticulture
11. • Major changes in winemaking technology
• Global investment in technology
• Global winemaking perspective
• Gravity flow wineries
• Stainless steel and temperature
controlled fermentation
• Small batch fermentation
• Judicious oak use
• Lees contact on Pinot Noirs
• Development in the small, garagiste sector
pushing quality
• (MOVI) Movement of Independent
Vintners
• (VIGNO) Vignadores de Carignan
New Winemaking
12. • There are 14 active regions in Chile
• Country continues to evolve with new
terroirs being discovered and planted by
“terroir hunters”
• White Grapes being cultivated:
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon
Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Semillon,
Viognier, Pedro Ximenez
• Red Grapes being cultivated: Cabernet
Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, Syrah,
Pinot Noir, Malbec, Cinsault, Carignan,
Cabernet Franc
Chile Today
14. • 1982 - Pablo Morandé establishes
region after visiting Carneros in CA
• First cool climate region to be
planted to Vitis Vinifera - 4100 ha
under vine
• 18km from ocean
• Soils are decomposed granite, sand,
loam and clay
• Best varietals: Sauvignon Blanc,
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Casablanca
Valley
15. • Originates from the Bordeaux region of
France
• Most imported white wine into US from
Chile
• One of the most distinctive and
aromatic white varietals - flavors can
range from grassy and herbal to citric
and tropical
• Its crisp acidity and dry, refreshing
flavor profile makes it one of the most
food friendly wines on the planet
• Best regions in Chile: Casablanca and
San Antonio
Sauvignon Blanc
16. • One of the northernmost regions
• Long known for fruit production
and archeological sites
• Chardonnay excelling in limestone
• 1993 - First winery established;
1800ha planted vineyards 10km
from ocean
• 8 wineries in Limari Valley
currently including Maycas, Casa
Tamaya and Tabali
Limari Valley
17. • Originates in Burgundy, France
• 2nd most imported white wine in US
from Chile
• The most popular white wine in the
US, almost 25% of all wine consumed
• Evolution in farming in Chile and
Improved winemaking techniques
• Less oak and Malolactic being used
• Lees stirring and judicious oak treatment
• New terroirs discovered in Limarí in limestone
soils with Bio Bio and Malleco in the South
• Best regions in Chile: Casablanca,
San Antonio and Limari Valleys
Chardonnay
18. Pinot Noir
• Small but growing impact in Chile
• Late 90‘s - New plantings and
investment in cool regions
• New Dijon Clones brought in (115,
667, 715, 777)
• Old Valdivieso and Concha y Toro
clones still exist
• Young winemakers traveling to
Burgundy, California and Oregon
• Best in the cooler, coastal regions of
Casablanca, San Antonia, Leyda and
Bio Bio
19. • Land of Ancient Vines
• Chile’s largest wine growing region with
31,000 ha under vine (43% of Chile’s
total)
• Ancient, bushed trained vines being
rediscovered
• Carignan finding success in the region
as well Malbec and Cabernet
Sauvignon
• Exciting field blends being produced
• New findings of slate and schist soils
creating buzz
Maule Valley
20. • Old Vines Rediscovered
• 1,200 ha planted; most in Maule
• 50 to 75 year old dry farmed,
low yielding “bush-trained”
vines
• Experiencing renaissance
• Higher acidity than most
Chilean varietals
Carignan
21. • Referred to as the “Napa Valley of
Chile”
• Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere
are top varietals
• Wineries experimenting with Syrah,
Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Grenache
and Mourvedre
• Coastal areas now being planted to
white varietals
• Named “Wine Region of the Year” by
Wine Enthusiast in 2005 and was
home to Wine Spectator 2009 “Wine
of the Year”
Colchagua Valley
22. • 85% red wines
• Known for Carmenere and Cabernet
Sauvignon
• Small, landlocked area
• Three distinctive sectors:
• Rancagua - home of Chilean
Rodeo
• Peumo - promising for
Carmenere
• Cachapoal Alto - premium red
wine area with alluvial, clay and
gravel soils
Cachapoal Valley
23. • Fastest growing red Chilean variety in
US
• Mistaken for Merlot until 1994
• Ampelographer Jean Michel Boursiquot
discovered the varietal at Carmen
interspersed with Merlot plants
• Favors a long growing season in
moderate to warm climate
• Perfect for Chile’s long growing season
• Very dark in color, rich in body, with
soft tannins
Carmenere
24. • Northernmost wine growing region
in Chile
• Known for its crystal blue skies
and long growing season
• 508ha planted
• High altitude vineyards being
explored at 2000M
• Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah are
promising varietals
• Only 2 wineries, Falernia and
Cavas del Valle, in Elqui at the
moment - more wineries farming
vineyards
Elqui Valley
25. Syrah
• Small Production, High Quality
• First bottling was 1996
• Wide range of styles exist
• Ripe, rich and accessible from warmer
inland climates
• Structured age worthy wines with dark
berry fruit from Andean Foothills
• Elegant, peppery and herbal from the
coast
• Excellent examples exist in the following
regions: Elqui, Aconcagua (first plantings
by Errazuriz), Colchagua, San Antonio
26. • 2 hours north of Santiago
• Mt Aconcagua is 23,000 ft above
sea level
• Was the most northern valley until
1993
• Primarily red grapes but white
grapes being cultivated on the
coast
• 5 wineries in the valley with
Errazuriz being the largest and
most prestigious
Aconcagua Valley
27. • Originates from the Bordeaux region of France
where it is the most widely planted red grape
• In recent years, Merlot has enjoyed a
explosion in popularity, especially in the United
States, South America, Italy and Australia. In
California, plantings have risen from 4,000
acres in 1988 to over 50,000 today. (inspite of
Sideways)
• Merlot’s popularity is due to the fact that it is
softer, fruitier, and earlier-maturing than
Cabernet Sauvignon
• For the last 15 years, after Carmenere was
rediscovered in Chile, Merlot has been planted
and cultivated on its own
• Best regions in Chile: Colchagua, Cachapoal
and Maipo
Merlot
28. • 2nd most imported red wine in US after
Cabernet Sauvignon
• Typically made in Bordeaux style with
Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
• New unique blends with Carmenere,
Syrah, Malbec and Petit Verdot
emerging
• Huge range of diverse wines
• Very exciting today!
Red Blend
29. • Most famous wines and established
wine region
• Cabernet is king; 60% of vineyards
planted to Cabernet Sauvignon
• Chile’s oldest and most famous
wineries are located in Maipo
• Mountains and hills on all sides
• Well drained, alluvial and colluvial
soils
• Best vineyards on old terraces
• Unique microclimates
Maipo Valley
30. • Originally from Bordeaux and brought
to Chile in 1850’s
• Chile’s most famous red varietal and
largest red wine imported in US
• Grown in a variety of terroirs across
Chile
• Most important grape to Red Blends
and Icon wines
• Big structured wines can age for a
long time
• Maipo is benchmark along with
Aconcagua, Colchagua and Curicó
Cabernet Sauvignon
31. • Itata
• 11,000 ha under vine
• Muscat of Alexandria and Pais
widely planted
• Bio Bio
• 3,500 ha planted to vines
• Aromatic cool climate varieties:
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Riesling, Gewürztraminer and
Sauvignon Blanc show promise
• Malleco
• 13 ha planted to vines
• Chardonnay and Pinot Noir show
excellent promise
Southern Valleys
32. • Learn more about Chile!
• www.winesofchile.org
• facebook.com/WinesOfChile
• twitter.com/drinkchile
Wines of Chile
