Chilean wines enjoy a prestigious reputation worldwide due to the very defined characteristics of our vine’s root stock. Wines from Chile have very special qualities that distinguish them from the same varietals grown elsewhere.
Its origins are from Bordeaux, France and its name is used worldwide, though it is also known as Vidure, Vindure, Petit Bouscher, Petit Cabernet, Petit Vidure and Red Bordeaux. Being a fine stock, its dominant characteristic is the force of its tannins and the noticeable flavors of pepper, black fruits and cassis. It has a lifespan which can extend beyond 20 years.
It originally comes from the southwest of France. The wines of Merlot are known for their color intensity, high levels of alcohol, slight fruity and spiced aromas marked by cherries and plums. Merlot can present very similar characteristics to Cabernet, although it is not its equal in quality, Merlot’s less tannic stock it creates lighter drinking wines with earlier points of maturation, Merlot’s sweet taste make it a great candidate for mixing with other wines.
This was one of the leading of varietals of Bordeaux, but it has suffered from a history of being plagued by a series of diseases attacks. Around 1860, phylloxera eliminated the stock entirely and Carmenere was definitively forgotten. During the 1990’s in Chile, it was discovered that a majority of the vineyards that were considered to be Merlot, were actually Carmenere, creating great potential for Chile. Nowadays, Chileans are able to say proudly that they are practically the unique producers of this wine varietal. The hope is that this grape will continue to be the great asset of Chilean wine production. It has a vibrant and deep red-violet color and a remarkable chocolate aroma, mixed with coffee and slight soil humidity. Although when it is harvested green it might show some vegetal notes, these can be tamed with more time left on the vine. Tannins are smoother and friendlier than those of Cabernet Sauvignon and by its vegetal notes make it less elegant than Merlot. It produces wines of medium body, which makes it easy to drink. Carmeneres are definitely wines that should be drunk young.
The origin of this varietal is surrounded by controversies and doubts. It is attributed to the Persian city of Shiraz, from where the Crusaders or Phoenicians would have taken it to Galia. The one thing that is certain thing is that the Syrah stock has existed for more than three thousand years. While not widely planted in Chile, syrahs have gained great acceptance from the public and is one of the recently labeled “new stocks”, gaining an excellent international critical reputation. Syrah produces amiable and flavorful wines, with deep wild fruit aromas, marked by the blackberries, chocolate, smoke and spices. It has an intense color, refined and solid austerity, spiced with a remarkable acidity.
This is the grape from which the best wines of French Burgundy are created. Since it is a variety that requires a specific cold climate to obtain good results, it does not adapt easily to any region and there is not very large production of it in Chile. The main regions producing this variety are: France, Germany, Sonoma country in California, Australia and South Africa. It has a light body and low intensity of color, with subtle fresh and fruit aromas, along with some level of acidity marked by notes of mushroom and soil.
Its origins come from Bordeaux, France. Recently, it was discovered that it is one of the varieties that gave rise to the Cabernet Sauvignon cultivation. It grows mainly in a climate of moderate cold. It has a smooth body and is less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon, showing a moderate and vigorous growth. The wines of these grapes have a deep purple color while young, with fruity flavors and smooth tones of green pepper.
With French origins, it is planted on around 1000 hectares in Chile. Argentine winemakers are responsible for the global market for this wine, especially Nicholas Catena in Mendoza. You can find an intense red color in the Malbec that goes from the purple tones to ruby. Its aroma is related violets, cinnamon, and mentholated red fruits with smooth and sweet tannin presence. When barrel aged, aromas of vanilla and smoky dried fruits and nuts are noticeable in these wines.
Sauvignon Blanc is native to the French southwest. It produces wines with a vegetal flavor and a very tempting shades of smoke. Sauvignon Blanc was the only white stock that was offered in Chile until Chardonnay appeared in the 1990’s. Blessed by the cold valleys such as San Antonio and Leyda, the results are excellent: flavors are clear and well defined, with essentially citric aromas, mineral notes and slightly herbaceous qualities, like dry grass and wild red currant. Because of its powerful aromas, the musts of this stock require very careful fermentation. Between the flavors it’s also possible to appreciate notes of asparagus, tropical fruits, apple, lime, lemon, honey, flowers, smoke, spices, and mineral notes.
It is a white grape stock, (Vitis vinifera) that comes originally from eastern France. The latest research in California that analyzed its genetic path, discovered its past in the Gouais Blanc and Pinot stocks. This French grape has spread internationally and most notably cultivated in Chile, Australia, California, Argentina and South Africa. It has a fruity aroma with many of the flavors commonly associated with the grape being derived from such influences as terroir and oak during the aging process occurs. Chardonnay is an important component of many sparkling wines, including champagne.
A peak in popularity in the late 1980s gave way to a backlash among those wine drinkers who saw the grape as a leading negative component of the globalization of wine. Nonetheless, it remains one of the most widely-planted grape varieties with over 175,000 hectares.
Native to Sauternes, France, Semillon’s sweet and dry wines can be aged from twenty to thirty years, including the wine well-known as “Late Harvest”. In Chile, there are only few vineyards that use this grape by itself, most of them use it mixed with others. Its intense aroma has citric and honey notes and its flavor is best described as honey, butter, figs, cherries and some floral tones.
Native to the Rhine region in Germany, Riesling is produced mainly in Europe, and is one of the more elegant wines that are very difficult to find in other parts of the world. The wines that are produced from this grape have character and personality, acidity and balanced sweetness. They are light and refreshing with yellow and greenish tonalities. Their aroma and flavor are very aromatic with green apple, orange, pineapple, lemon, cinnamon and floral tones. There are very few vineyards in Chile that produce wine from this grape and the ones that do are located mainly in the Maule region.
Native to the Rhone valley in France, but due to its growing difficulties and instability, Viognier has only been developed in five Chilean vineyards. With a strong structure, an opulent texture, less acidity and a rather dry and lengthy finish in the mouth, it gives the sensation of being sweet, with noticeable notes of peach, melon, dry fruits, honey and apricot.
Originally from Italy, this grape is characterized by wines of great body and complexity. It is easy to identify by its strong aroma of roses, spices and the Chinese fruit lychee.
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