South American wine producing regions such as Chile and Argentina have made great strides in improving the quality of their bottles. It used to be that only a trickle of the wine produced in these countries ever made it into the American market. But now that countries like Chile and Argentina have stepped up their game, they are receiving more of an international spotlight. Today, much Chilean and Argentinean wine is simply too good to be kept secret, and it’s often sold at bargain-basement prices, to boot.
Argentina’s best wine-growing regions nestle up to the Andes, which provide plenty of irrigation water and a high-altitude climate featuring warm, sunny days and cool nights. With a nurturing environment like this, wine grapes simply couldn’t have it any better.
Red wines are by far the most consistent knockouts among Argentina’s offerings. And this shouldn’t be any surprise – what else would you be serving alongside the country’s world-famous beef? For Argentina’s best reds, think Malbec, a southwestern French varietal that actually seems to do better in Argentina than France. Often no more than a minor blending grape in French wines, Malbec becomes rich and distinctive enough to stand on its own when grown in Argentina-particularly when it’s grown in Mendoza, the country’s top region. Cabernet Sauvignon also yields some fantastic wines, either on its own or as part of a blend with Malbec.
Although reds are the biggest stars, the country is also home to a number of winning whites, including ever-popular Chardonnay. Most appealing of all though, might be a somewhat obscure variety called Torrontes. Aromatic, spicy, and light-bodied in style, Torrontes is worth a try when you’re in the mood for something not only unusual, but uniquely Argentinean.
And then there’s Chile. From luscious Cabernets to sumptuous Chardonnays, Chile offers excellent quality – varieties Americans know and love, and prices that can’t be ignored. And that’s just the tip of the Andes!
It’s not only wine drinkers who’ve been attracted to Chile – top foreign winemakers, lured by Chile’s exceptional climate, proven soil, and favorable land and labor prices, see the future of Chilean wine as limitless. Let’s face it, when names such as Lafite Rothschild of France, Torres of Spain, and Mondavi of California get on the Chilean bandwagon, the wine world sits up and takes notice. These companies and others – often backed by centuries of winemaking expertise – have made massive investments in new equipment and technology. This influx of money and know-how can only drive already high Chilean quality standards through the roof.
With loads of sunshine, ocean breezes, and plentiful water from the Andes, winegrowers claim that Chile is one of the easiest places in the world to raise quality wine grapes. Plus, it’s the world’s only major wine region never to have been affected by the vineyard’s number one enemy: the vine-destroying louse, phylloxera. All of this allows Chilean winemakers to experiment with new varieties. Although already justifiably famous for top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay, similar success with varieties such as Pinot Noir, Riesling, Syrah, and many others surely is just around the corner. It could be that in Chile, we’re witnessing the future of wine.
South American wine producing regions such as Chile and Argentina have made great strides in improving the quality of their bottles. It used to be that only a trickle of the wine produced in these countries ever made it into the American market. But now that countries like Chile and Argentina have stepped up their game, they are receiving more of an international spotlight. Today, much Chilean and Argentinean wine is simply too good to be kept secret, and it’s often sold at bargain-basement prices, to boot.
Argentina’s best wine-growing regions nestle up to the Andes, which provide plenty of irrigation water and a high-altitude climate featuring warm, sunny days and cool nights. With a nurturing environment like this, wine grapes simply couldn’t have it any better.
Red wines are by far the most consistent knockouts among Argentina’s offerings. And this shouldn’t be any surprise – what else would you be serving alongside the country’s world-famous beef? For Argentina’s best reds, think Malbec, a southwestern French varietal that actually seems to do better in Argentina than France. Often no more than a minor blending grape in French wines, Malbec becomes rich and distinctive enough to stand on its own when grown in Argentina-particularly when it’s grown in Mendoza, the country’s top region. Cabernet Sauvignon also yields some fantastic wines, either on its own or as part of a blend with Malbec.
Although reds are the biggest stars, the country is also home to a number of winning whites, including ever-popular Chardonnay. Most appealing of all though, might be a somewhat obscure variety called Torrontes. Aromatic, spicy, and light-bodied in style, Torrontes is worth a try when you’re in the mood for something not only unusual, but uniquely Argentinean.
And then there’s Chile. From luscious Cabernets to sumptuous Chardonnays, Chile offers excellent quality – varieties Americans know and love, and prices that can’t be ignored. And that’s just the tip of the Andes!
It’s not only wine drinkers who’ve been attracted to Chile – top foreign winemakers, lured by Chile’s exceptional climate, proven soil, and favorable land and labor prices, see the future of Chilean wine as limitless. Let’s face it, when names such as Lafite Rothschild of France, Torres of Spain, and Mondavi of California get on the Chilean bandwagon, the wine world sits up and takes notice. These companies and others – often backed by centuries of winemaking expertise – have made massive investments in new equipment and technology. This influx of money and know-how can only drive already high Chilean quality standards through the roof.
With loads of sunshine, ocean breezes, and plentiful water from the Andes, winegrowers claim that Chile is one of the easiest places in the world to raise quality wine grapes. Plus, it’s the world’s only major wine region never to have been affected by the vineyard’s number one enemy: the vine-destroying louse, phylloxera. All of this allows Chilean winemakers to experiment with new varieties. Although already justifiably famous for top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay, similar success with varieties such as Pinot Noir, Riesling, Syrah, and many others surely is just around the corner. It could be that in Chile, we’re witnessing the future of wine.
