Chile

Chile’s incredible success as a wine producer is due to a number of factors.

• Its summers are dependably warm and dry, so grapes get ripe and there is less risk of vine disease.
• Vineyards have access to a practically inexhaustible source of water for irrigation: the Andes snow melt.
• The climate is moderated by the chilly Pacific Humboldt Current, which lengthens grape hang times and develops flavor.
• The grape louse phylloxera, which devastated wine regions around the world, never gained a foothold here.

If that weren’t enough, Chile’s vineyards stretch for 800 miles north to south – an area roughly equivalent to the entire California coastline – which allows for an incredible diversity of wines to be made. GVI Wines sources bottles primarily from these four Chilean regions:

• Colchagua Valley: Located in the center of the country, the Colchagua Valley runs from the Andes in the east to the Coastal Range in the west. The climate is on the cooler side, perfect for producing Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines of finesse and character.
• Maule Valley: Some of Chile’s oldest vineyards are located in this large, diverse growing region. Powerful Cabernet Sauvignon, spicy Carménère, and concentrated Carignan wines are most at home here.
• Maipo Valley: A warm region located not far from Chile’s capital of Santiago, bold, structured reds again make the biggest impression, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Carménère leading the pack.
• Casablanca Valley: One of Chile’s coolest regions located near the coast, it boasts some of the country’s best Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.