Chile, A Wine-Producing Paradise.

The history of wine production in Chile began more than 500 years ago.

At the time of the Spanish Conquest, Jesuit Missionaries introduced Iberian varieties known by the name of Missions, since they were cultivated with a view to producing wine needed for their religious services. Wine was then perceived as quite a basic requirement in the evangelizing process of America.

By the end of the XIX century, accompanied by the buoyant national economy created by the mining industry, a major group of Chilean aristocrats introduced into the country fine French varieties, particularly from the famous region of Bordeaux, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. This was done for the purpose of locally producing great wines equivalent to those produced in Europe, for both internal consumption and export.

Undoubtedly a determining factor for the high quality of wines produced in Chile to day is the privileged Mediterranean climate in the central area of the country to which most varieties adapt magnificently - a climate that may well be one of the best in the world. This means, among other things, that grapes can be harvested at their finest maturing point for each variety allowing to also produce very high quality organic wines.

The magnificent and dramatic geographical context composed of volcanoes and transversal valleys, closely bordered by two great cold masses, the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountain Range, has led to a natural isolation from the rest of the continent. And this in turn has resulted in an unbeatable healthiness and quality. Thus Chile is the only wine-producing country in the world never attacked by the dreaded Phylloxera that has devastated most vineyards worldwide. And it now has vineyards that are more than 100 years old and still in production, without any need to plant over root stock, transforming it into the world's biggest genetic material reserve for original Bordeaux products and the major wine exporter on the American continent.

Within Chile the Valley of Colchagua is the region with the biggest potential for production of fine wines, as has been clearly shown over the last few years. It is the label guaranteeing origin and quality that has received most prizes and awards for its wines in the leading international competitions. It is also the wine-producing region that concentrates more that 70% of the plantations of the Carmenere variety.

Thomas Wilkins Biggs - Managing Director - Viñas Colchagua tourist commission