Chile, all ways surprising

This is how we Chileans would like our country to be perceived today by the world. The key concept of this creative slogan is, of course, the ability to surprise, but it spells also a self-imposed challenge and Chile is working hard to live up to its full meaning.

First, by consistently growing at rates higher than most of the developing world while working successfully to eradicate poverty. Secondly, by applying sound fiscal policies and building an efficient public sector which works harmoniously with private business. Thirdly, by creating a stable political environment that welcomes trade and investments with impressive results.

But, all this has been going for a while, so what is next, for Chile to surprise further?

New key words : Tourism for connoisseurs.

Already the country is well on its way to becoming a favourite tourist destination with its stunning natural beauty, its safe environment and its first class tourist services. A well known haven for fishing, rafting, mountaineering, golfing, skiing, bird watching and horseback riding, Chile is now busy developing new attractions, among them star-gazing in the foothills of the Andes Mountains under the most clear skies of the Southern Hemisphere, visiting archeological sites in the Northern Atacama desert dating 5000 years and more, or perhaps what has now become the most popular of all: bringing to the world - the 400 year old wine-making tradition of Chile.

The latest surprise: La Magia del Vino.


The magic of wine. A soft climate with long and dry summers, daily temperature fluctuations and the right humidity, combined with fine rootstock, most of it imported from France in the 18th century, and state of the art winemaking facilities, have turned the Chilean wine industry into one of the leaders of the world.

With 450 years of history, Chile is one of the New World's oldest wine producers, preceding California and Australia by more than two centuries. It was the Spanish Conquistadores who brought the first vines to the country around 1550, planting them in the mid-southern Itata Valley. Later on in the 19th century, most of the wineries had established themselves in the so-called Center Valley and only lately, twenty or thirty years ago, there has been a push towards the sea with vineyards almost overlooking the Pacific Ocean.


With more than 110,000 hectares of high quality wine grapes that benefit from sunny days, cool nights and diverse soil types, Chile produces today a wide range of high quality red wines from its flagship grape, Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot, Carmenere, Pinot Noir and Syrah with a growing tendency towards blends that many times also include Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Among the white wines we find the crisp and fruity Chardonnays, excellent Sauvignon Blancs and also other varieties such as Riesling, Viognier a Gewurztraminer, which enjoy wide popularity.

The last decade was the "golden" decade for the Chile wine industry. From a little over U$50 million in exports in the year 1990, the returns have grown to over U$1 billion in 15 years and the exporters still wanting to grow at a rate 10% per year. The strategy is threefold: to establish "Vinos de Chile" as a successful worldwide product category, to increase the number of labels and to determine a strong export route. Among the most recognised premium wines we can mention Clos Apalta, Don Melchor, Sena, Montes Alpha M, Don Maximiano, Casa Real and Almaviva. Some of them have been ranked among the top in the world by the foremost experts the wine industry.

The Wine Valleys

Chile's unique geography, with two major mountain chains, the Andes to the East and the Coastal to the West, plays an important role in its wine industry. In the northern region of the Elqui, Limari, Choapa and Aconcagua valleys, the two cordilleras run almost entangled and vines are planted in river valleys that run from the Andes towards the Pacific Ocean. When they reach the Maipo Valley, famous for Cabernets, they separate creating a large depression between the two ranges, where the smaller valleys and many wine producing regions are located.

The northern-most is the Elqui Valley, already well known because of its clear skies where some of the top observatories of the world are located. Traditionally known the region which produced Chile's distilled spirit Pisco, the Elqui Valley has become a dynamic wine country with grape plantations as high as 2,000 meters above the sea. This is a region where Cabernet Sauvignon and particularly Sirah wines have been quite successful.

Continuing south lies the Limari Valley, sunny and clear cooled by fresh ocean breeze from the sea, producing rich, concentrated red wines and lush white wines, and the Choapa Valley which has traditionally grown grapes for Pisco but new plantations of Syrah and Cabernet can be seen everywhere.

The last of Chile's east to west transversal valleys is Aconcagua where French vines have been grown for 150 years. In 1870 the Panquehue Vineyard in Aconcagua was the largest in the world. This region was the first in Chile to ply Syrah and today it specialises in organic wines. The wine route of the Aconcagua Valley is composed of family owned wineries, each with its own tradition. They allow visitors to explore their vast colonial cellars, to stroll amongst the vineyards in guided tours as well as to participate in wine tasting sessions. Aconcagua wineries include Errazuriz which together with California's Mondavi produces Sena.


Arriving to the north-south depression in the center of Chile we find first the very well known Casablanca Valley, where Chardonnay grapes were first planted 30 years ago taking advantage of the soil and the cooler climate because of its proximity to the sea. Today there are close to 2000 hectares of Chardonnay planted in Casablanca, almost one thousand of Sauvignon Blanc as well as some Pinot Noir, Merlot and Carmenere. The white wines from Casablanca are fruity and crisp. In the Casablanca wine route, we can find William Cole, Veramonte, Tarapaca and others.

Close to Casablanca and with vineyards just 4 km away from the sea is San Antonio Valley where Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes are grown. Since this valley is quite dry, water is brought through pipelines from the Maipo River. The wines of San Antonio are exciting cool climate wines with bright fruits and very distinct mineral character.

Next in our way south is Santiago which is also the home to one of Chile's most well known wine regions, the Maipo Valley. Many wineries are based at Maipo and most of its ten thousand hectares, between the Andean Piedmont and the Coastal Range are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. But there is also a substantial area planted with Merlot and Carmenere as well as with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Due to the low average rainfall (300 mm annually) this valley contains the best grape growing area in the country. Among the many wineries that offer individual visits in the Maipo Valley we can mention Odjfell (where you can also visit the Norwegian pony stables); Cousino Macul, Santa Carolina, Concha y Toro, Santa Rita and Tarapaca.

Only 60 miles south of Santiago, you will find the Rapel Valley, in the heart of the Chilean Huaso Country. Rapel is divided into two main valleys: Cachapoal and Colchagua. In Cachapoal close to 10,000 hectares, mostly red varieties are planted. The region is well known for its Merlots and Carmeneres. Also here, the broad temperature, differential and distinct soil quality allows the production of highly praised premium wines.
In Cachapoal there is a central office arranging visits which combine wine tasting with local cuisine and traditions. The tours carry names like Vino y Gastronomia (Wine and Gastronomy); or Vino, Tradicion y Folklore (Wine, Tradition and Folklore) and they include tours of vineyards for wine sampling and gastronomic lunches at the vineyards or estates nearby, like Los Lingues, a property featured by the Relais and Chateaux group.
Next to Chachapoal lies the famous Colchagua Valley with its warm climate very suitable for red wines. Although now some vineyards seek cooler conditions by climbing into the hills such as Apalta. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Syrah, the region also produces some of the finest Malbec found in South America. The Colchagua Valley was the first in Chile to organise an official wine route, which includes tours, museums, hotels, restaurants, a wine train and even hot-air balloon rides over the valley. In the city of Santa Cruz there is a magnificent museum and a high-end hotel: the Santa Cruz Plaza. In this valley we find many wineries, among them Casa Lapostolle, Mont Gras, Casa Silva, Montes and Luis Felipe Edwards.


Further south, we enter the Curico Region where most of the viticultural activity takes place in the Lontue Valley between the cities of Molina and Sagrada Familia. The pronounced daytime-nightime difference is quite beneficial for flavor and aroma, especially in red wines. Curico also produces large quantities of Sauvignon Blanc and is known for producing excellent olive oils. Curico offers a wine circuit combining vineyards with horseback riding, hot springs and kayaking. Among the vineyards in this valley we can mention Miguel Torres, La Fortuna and San Pedro,

The next valley is the Maule, Chile's largest wine region with a very interesting blend of tradition and innovation. Two hundred year old wineries produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Merlot side by side with small owners who plant the traditional Pays vines. New vertically positioned vineyards with noble varieties flourish as well, thanks to the vast diversity of climates and soils of the Maule Valley.

The wine circuit of Maule Valley starts in Talca (250 km south of Santiago) and extends for about 60 km to the City of Constitucion. Visits and tours include transportation, lodging and visits to other places of interest. Vineyards in this valley include Calina, Balduzzi, Hugo Casanova, and J. Bouchon.

Finally, the Southern Region, where the coastal range descends into the Pacific Ocean, includes the first Chilean wine region, Itata, as well as the Bio-Bio and Malleco Valleys. Here we find ancient, head-trained vineyards side by side with new ventures consisting of noble varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Visitors can always add skiing and hot springs to their visits of these southern valleys.

In sum, the land, the people, the wines: all ways surprising.