Introduction
The Wine scene in Chile has become far more quality-focused over the last few years and more and more of their wines are generating a lot of interest amongst wine industry experts and consumers alike due to their unique character. One of greatest things about Chilean wines is that they offer great value for money. If you’re looking for good quality wines and low prices, Chile is the country to take a good look at.We stock two different wines from Chilean vineyards. Firstly, a full bodied red wine, our Chilean Merlot, and secondly, a zesty white wine, our Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.
Why are Chilean wines so popular?
Chile’s vineyards are some of the best in the world in terms of the variety of grapes that can be grown there due to the perfect wine growing environment and weather, and you’ll get a lot more value for money than you would elsewhere in the world. With over 460 years of wine making experience, it’s probably fair to say that the Chilean vintners know what they’re doing. There are two main factors that contribute to the popularity of Chilean wines. These factors are the perfect climate, as previously mentioned, and also their unique winemaking techniques.
The Perfect Grape Growing Climate
The mere mention of Chile brings to mind volcanos, lakes and deserts; an extraordinarily varied landscape. Chile is a country that’s 4000km long and only 100km wide with a range of different climates due to its extremes of terrain and this is reflected in the range of wines that are produced in this most fascinating of countries. It has an area of almost Mediterranean climate with a great wealth of experience of winemaking amongst the population, enabling the production of high quality and exceptional value wines.
Chile benefits from a surprising lack of vine pests and diseases and has dependable dry, warm summers. The consistent localised temperatures are maintained by the Andes located in the east of the country and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Unique Winemaking Techniques
The secret of great wine making is not just in the crushing of grapes and the process of producing the liquid, it’s more in the detailed understanding of the vineyards and their local environment. Chilean winemakers use drip irrigation systems which deliver precise amounts of water to individual plants. Specialist trellis systems designed to maximize the quality of vine plant have been introduced and are resulting in a wider variety of vines being grown which are matched more carefully to the vineyards where they are grown. With serious investments in modern winemaking techniques, Chile has gained a stronghold in the wine markets of the UK and other Western European countries, especially on the shelves of stores offering high quality, affordable wines.
Where exactly are our Chilean wines from?
Our Chilean wines are from the Central Valley in Chile. It is Chile’s most productive and internationally recognised wine region and is also the location of some of Chile’s most fertile vine growing land. The wine region stretches from the Maipo Valley (south of Santiago) to the southern end of the Maule Valley. These two areas are about 250 miles apart and surprisingly encompass a number of different climate types.
The cooler-climate areas are the foothills of the Andes, which are receiving most attention due to experimentation in the modern wine world, and the river valleys tempered by the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean.
The Central Valley grows a wide variety of different grape types which are mostly the internationally popular varieties, mainly Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.
Our Chilean Merlot
Merlot is a well-known wine made all over the world but has its origins in France. The grape arrived in Chile from its native France in the mid 19th century but didn’t gain serious popularity and attention until the beginning of the 1990s.
Our Chilean Merlot grapes are cultivated in a climate that produces the best type of grapes for an easy drinking, fruit driven red wine. It promises intense aromas of plum, red berry fruits, with a hint of spice and a wonderfully long finish. It’s a fantastic accompaniment to a wide variety of red meat dishes, including lasagnes, rich stews and grilled sausages.
What temperature should our Chilean Merlot be served at?
Our Chilean Merlot should be served at room temperature (15-18 °C) to ensure that you experience the best characteristics of the wine. It is important to unlock the full flavours and the aromas of the wine.
We recommend opening the bottle for at least half an hour to an hour before pouring. This allows the wine to breathe before it is served. Exposing it to the air for a short time will allow the wine to begin to oxidize, soften flavours and release aromas in a way similar to swirling wine in your glass.
How long will an open bottle of our Chilean Merlot Red Wine last?
Once opened, this wine will begin to lose its intensity in a matter of a few days. It will last for about 3-4 days. For any wine not consumed, store in the fridge after replacing the screw cap, this will extend the life of the wine by a few days. Remember to take it out of the fridge at least an hour before drinking to allow it to return to room temperature.
How should I store this Chilean Merlot?
Due to its screwcap, the wine will be fine stored standing up. We recommend keeping it away from any bright light (both natural and artificial) and keep at a cool and constant temperature, ideally between 10-15 °C).
How do I know whether the wine has gone past its best?
The best way is to smell the wine. Wine that is past its best often has a slightly vinegar smell.
Should I decant this wine?
You don’t need to decant this wine, but any wine can be decanted. The reason for decanting is to aerate the wine. A lot of young wines can be tight or closed on the nose or palate. By slowly pouring the wine into the decanter it takes in oxygen which helps to open up the aromas and flavours.
Has this Chilean Merlot won any awards for quality?
Our Chilean Merlot has been recognised by the most highly regarded wine award bodies in the world and has won several awards for its high quality standard. Our Chilean Merlot has won the following awards: 2018 International Wine Challenge (commended) and 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards (commended).
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc:
“Sauvignon” comes from the French word Sauvage, meaning ‘wild’. Sauvignon Blanc is a green skinned grape variety with a history going back at least 500 years old. Just like the merlot grape, it originated in the Bordeaux region of France.
Our Sauvignon Blanc is unoaked. This means it’s fermented in stainless steel vats. It’s known for its high acidity, aromas of lime, and hints of gooseberry. The vines planted in our Chilean vineyards result in a crisp, refreshing and dry white wine. Our Chilean Sauvignon Blanc is a world-class wine with regards to quality and taste.
The herbal, tangy qualities of this Sauvignon Blanc white wine are tailor-made to complement all forms of fish and chicken, or it can be enjoyed on its own as an aperitif.
What temperature should our Chilean Sauvignon Blanc be served at?
To ensure you experience the best characteristics of the wine, this Sauvignon Blanc should be served chilled (7-10 °C). Most refrigerators are set to a temperature of 1-4 °C, therefore we wouldn’t recommend leaving it in the fridge for longer than 2 hours before serving it.
Is it okay to chill a bottle that’s been taken out of the fridge, has been opened and has warmed up?
Sure. It may not be ideal, but it won’t do much harm either. We recommend putting the bottle back into the fridge after it’s been opened. If you’d like to serve some more glasses you could take it out again as and when required. This keeps the wine at its freshest.
How long will an open bottle of our Chilean Sauvignon Blanc White Wine last?
Once opened, this wine will begin to lose its intensity in a matter of a few days. It will last for about 3-4 days. For any wine not consumed, store in the fridge after replacing the screw cap, this will extend the life of the wine by a few days.
How should I store this Chilean Sauvignon Blanc?
Due to its screwcap, the wine will be fine stored standing up. We recommend keeping it away from any bright light (both natural and artificial) and keep at a cool and constant temperature, ideally between 10-15 °C).
How do I know if the wine is past its best?
You can tell if the wine is past its best by using your three ‘winetasting senses’. First observe the wine. You can tell a lot from the way the wine looks, the colour can tell you if the wine has been exposed to excess air, the colour would be slightly darker than an unopened. If there are bubbles in the bottle, this is also a sign that the wine has been oxidising for some time. Secondly, smell the wine, if it smells a little sharp and is slightly vinegar scented, don’t drink it. Thirdly, if it tastes a little too sharp and has a slightly vinegar taste, it’s best not to continue drinking it.
Should I decant this wine?
You don’t need to decant this wine, but any wine can be decanted. The reason for decanting is to aerate the wine. A lot of young wines can be tight or closed on the nose or palate. By slowly pouring the wine into the decanter it takes in oxygen which helps to open up the aromas and flavours.
Has this Chilean Sauvignon Blanc won any awards for quality?
Just like our Chilean Merlot, our Chilean Sauvignon Blanc has also won wine awards at the 2017 International Wine Challenge (Commended) and the 2017 International Wine & Spirits Competition (Bronze Medal).