ABOUT CHILE
Chile
is sometimes called the oldest wine producer in the "New World." Farmers on the southwest coast of South America have been cultivating wine grapes since the 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors brought the first vines from Europe. Like fine wine, Chile's winemaking reputation has gotten better with age.
Chile's contemporary wine boom took root in the mid-19th century when cuttings from Bordeaux, France arrived. Before long, talented French winemakers followed, attracted by the favorable conditions of the nation's Central Valley with its rich soil, warm summers and mild winters.
Today, Chile is noted for producing some of the most reasonably priced, consistently good varietals in the world. Its wines, especially its reds (Cabarnet Sauvignon and Merlot), have won critical acclaim and an expanding share of the international market.
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