Chilean Wine Regions: What That Long Skinny Country Produces

Chile looks weird on a map. This super long, super narrow country squeezed between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. But that weird geography creates some interesting conditions for wine. I visited a few years back and have been obsessed with Chilean wines ever since.

Why Chile Makes Such Good Wine

Geography first: the Andes to the east, Pacific to the west, desert to the north, glaciers to the south. This natural barrier system kept phylloxera (the pest that destroyed most of the world wine industry) completely out. Chilean vines never needed replanting on resistant rootstock. Some vines there are over 150 years old.

The climate is basically Mediterranean – dry summers, mild winters, big temperature swings between day and night. Grapes love this. They ripen during warm days and preserve acidity during cool nights.

The Central Valley – Where Most Wine Comes From

This is the heartland of Chilean wine. If you have ever bought a ten dollar Chilean Cab from the grocery store, it probably came from here.

Maipo Valley near Santiago makes excellent Cabernet Sauvignon. Some of these wines compete with Napa at a fraction of the price. I had a Maipo Cab last year that I would put up against anything from California at similar money.

Colchagua Valley is red wine territory too. Big, ripe Carmenere comes from here. This grape basically disappeared from Bordeaux but thrived in Chile. It is worth seeking out.

Casablanca Valley focuses more on white wines. Cool Pacific breezes make it good for Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Some really crisp, refreshing whites come out of this area.

Carmenere – Chile Made This Grape Famous

Here is a fun story: for decades, Chilean winemakers thought they were growing Merlot. Turns out a lot of those vines were actually Carmenere, a grape that had basically gone extinct in France.

Now Carmenere is considered Chile signature grape. It tastes like a cross between Merlot and Cabernet – soft but with some herbal, green pepper notes. I find it incredibly food-friendly and it is usually priced well.

What I Look For in Chilean Wine

For everyday drinking, Chilean Cab and Merlot offer crazy value. The ten to fifteen dollar range has consistent quality that I do not find from many other countries at that price point.

For something more interesting, I seek out Carmenere specifically. It is uniquely Chilean and shows what the country does differently.

Cool-climate Chilean whites surprised me. I expected fruit bombs but found elegant, balanced wines instead. Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc is now in my regular rotation.

Producers I Keep Coming Back To

Concha y Toro makes wine at every price point. Their cheap stuff is acceptable, their premium labels are genuinely good.

Errazuriz impressed me with their single vineyard wines. More expensive but worth it for special occasions.

Montes wines have this consistency that I appreciate. I know what I am getting, and it is always solid.

The Value Proposition

This is really why I keep buying Chilean wine. The currency situation and lower labor costs mean you get more wine for your money.

A twenty dollar Chilean wine often drinks like a thirty dollar Californian. A forty dollar Chilean premium bottle competes with sixty dollar wines from other countries.

Not glamorous, but my wallet appreciates it.