January 22 - Vintages

The steady rise of a new power
Winemaking in Chile
may go back to
the 16th century,
but it wasn’t until
the mid-19th century
– when wealthy, worldtravelling
Chileans developed a
taste for French grape varieties –
that the modern Chilean winemaking
era was born.
Viticulturalists began importing
cuttings (serendipitously before
the phylloxera louse devastated
the vineyards of Europe) and
experimenting with great grapes
such as Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
and others. With its dry
conditions, sandy soil and protection
provided by the Andes
mountains, Chile has always
managed to avoid phylloxera
infestations and is one of the few
countries that grows almost
all its vines on original rootstock.
4 VINTAGES
A springtime vineyard at Viña
Emiliana, leaders in the use of
sustainable, organic and
biodynamic practices. LEFT: Top
Chilean winemaker and
renaissance man Aurelio Montes,
of Viña Montes.
During the 19th century, Chile
became one of the first New
World countries to export wine.
A variety of internal and international
political crises caused
Chile to experience a period of
decline throughout the first twothirds
of the 20th century. In
the 1980s, a new generation of
winemakers emerged, including
renaissance man Aurelio Montes,
who had rediscovered the
French varieties. Shortly after,
Chilean wines burst back onto
the international scene and caught
the attention of producers around
the world, resulting in important
investments from several foreign
wine companies, like Miguel Torres
– pioneers in their own right
who had opened a winery in Chile
in 1979.
With the influx of foreign
investment came an increased
level of expertise and a ground-
breaking discovery: in 1994, it
was determined that many of the
vines that growers called Merlot
were actually Carmenère.
Producers quickly adapted their
viticultural techniques to help
it thrive. As the wine scene continued
to grow and evolve, a
new group of producers came to
the fore. This third wave of winemakers
pushed the vineyards into
higher elevations, seeking out
new, cooler climates for fresh white
wines and elegant Pinot Noirs.
Armed with a better understanding
of the terroir and a deep
respect for the land, these modern,
forward-thinkers have also taken
the lead in Chile’s eco-friendly
wine movement.
Today, Chile continues to create
exciting wines at all quality levels.
What’s in the bottle showcases
exactly what winemaking passion
can achieve.