| The Chilean wine industry is now booming. Over | | | | A variety to look out for when buying Chilean |
| the last decade in particular, huge investment has | | | | wine is Carmenere; you may spot it on labels and |
| been made in this country's wine industry, with | | | | if you do, give it a try. This grape variety was at |
| the most modern wine making practices being | | | | one time believed to simply be Merlot, but in |
| adopted. | | | | actual fact it turned out to be a long-forgotten |
| Some of this is thanks to foreign investment | | | | Bordeaux that has been growing in Chile all along |
| which has either purchased land in Chile and set up | | | | too. You'll find it has a vibrant fruity wine with |
| operations there, or collaborated in partnerships | | | | deep flavour. |
| with Chilean wine houses. | | | | As you would expect, different areas of Chile are |
| The industry is now using stainless steel vats and | | | | particularly suited to producing certain wines. One |
| new American or French oak where before it | | | | of the longest-established regions is Maipo, just |
| used ancient wooden vats made from rauli, a local | | | | south of the capital Santiago. Some of the big |
| type of evergreen beech. This has meant | | | | names in Chilean wine are based here, including |
| standards have vastly improved along with | | | | Santa Rita and Concha y Toro, and the main |
| hygiene. | | | | produce is high quality Cabernet Sauvignon. |
| Chile has two big influences on its climate, these | | | | Casablanca is a new region producing world class |
| are the mountain range, the Andes, which run | | | | Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. This cool costal |
| down the eastern side of the country, and the | | | | region is now also having Pinot Noir planted in it, |
| Pacific Ocean on the west. These two forces cool | | | | taking advantage of the cool climate. This region |
| Chile's air, and the temperature in the country is | | | | produces some of the country's top wines, |
| similar to that of the south of France. | | | | including the Casablanca Chardonnays of Ignacio |
| Chilean wine is diverse and the country grows | | | | Recabarren. |
| many of the international favourites of the wine | | | | Aconcagua in the north is producing good quality |
| industry including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, | | | | Cabernet Sauvingnon. This area is very dry and |
| Merlot and Cabernet, and has many up and | | | | hot, and is therefore better suited to the |
| coming home-grown varieties. One to watch for | | | | production of red wine. Luckily, both red and white |
| the future is Pais, a grape variety that's widely | | | | Chilean wine is excellent, and you are unlikely to |
| planted in Chile but has yet to properly earn its | | | | be disappointed with your purchases. |
| place internationally. | | | | |