Tolchards Wine Brochure 2023 - Magazine - Page 37
CHILE
CHILE
Chile is over 2500 miles north to south but averages only
110 miles wide. The Atacama Desert in the north, Pacific
Ocean to the West, the Andes to the East and Antarctica
to the South has isolated and therefore protected Chilean
vineyards from the ravages of Phylloxera. Winemakers are
proud of the ‘purity’ of their grapes as they are very often
not grafted onto different rootstocks as most grapevines are.
Chile’s long history of winemaking began when the Spanish
conquistadors and missionaries of the 16th century first
brought vines to the country. Although they were Spanish,
the grapes planted were largely the French Bordeaux
varieties and now Cabernet Sauvignon is by far the most
grown in the country, with only France itself growing more.
IN THE KNOW
Specific Region
The fertile Central Valley has long been a source of excellent value
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay table wines.
They’ve also resurrected the ancient Bordeaux grape Carmenère and made
it their own. There has been an influx of foreign investment in recent
years and high-profile winemakers from France and the USA have
introduced new technology and styles which have enabled Chilean
winemakers to produce premium quality, award-winning wines.
“A real connoisseur do� not
drink wine but tast� of its secrets.”
37
Salvador Dali
