Adventures in Wine > Chile

Chile

Chile

Chile’s wine making history goes back to the 16th century. In more recent times, most of its wines were made from the Pais variety, a high yielding vine offering poor quality for domestic consumption. However, in the last three decades, Chile has upgraded its vineyards for export purposes using more saleable, better quality international varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gewurtztraminer, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Similarly, a lot of investment and expertise has gone into the wine industry which has resulted in some of the best made, best value New World wines on offer in the market. In addition, Chile produces a growing number of ‘icon’ wines for fine wine aficionados.

Research has also shown that Chilean red wines contain high levels of health giving flavenoids which are effective in combating heart disease. Another piece of research revealed that as much as 90 per cent of planted Chilean Merlot could, in fact, be a completely different variety – called Carmenere.

In most years, Chile’s irrigated vineyards benefit from melting snow from the Andes mountain range. There are three main regions north and south of Santiago; Aconcagua (including the Casablanca sub-region), Southern and the Central Valley. The latter includes better-known Maipo, Rapel, Curico and Maule Valley sub-regions. (Financial Times)

Viña Tabalí

Winery: Tabalí
Region: Chile
Sub-region: Limarí Valley

Chardonnay Reserva Especial
Sauvignon Blanc Reserva
Viognier Reserva
Pinot Noir Reserva Especial

The winery started its vineyard plantings in 1993 in the exciting and promising Limarí Valley, situated in the northern part of Chile. The Limarí Valley is adjacent to the driest desert on Earth, the Atacama, but temperatures are moderated by the nearby Pacific Ocean. Clear and pure skies; limestone soils; dependable morning fog, hot days and refreshing nights result in an exceptional terroir. The winery exerts complete viticultural control over their 100% handpicked and estate grown fruit and is solar powered, sustainable and uses gravity flow. Tabalí is committed to crafting unique wines with distinct Limarí character.

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