THURSTQUEEN CHECKS OUT CHILE: ONE OF THE HOTTEST WINE REGIONS SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR

Quite possibly one of the best-value wine regions around is Chile. This coastal, geologically-diverse country absolutely slays when it comes to cool-climate influenced wines. If you’re all about that Pinot Noir and Chardy life, but don’t want to burn a gigantic Sonoma-sized hole in your wallet, check out some of the wines Chile has to offer.

The History of Chilean Wine

Chile hosts century’s worth of history, and the origins of this wine-producing country date back to the 16th Century. Spanish missionaries planted vines of País - or Missíon - and wine was made primarily for religious reasons.

During the 1800s - right around the time of the phylloxera epidemic - Chilleans fell in love with French Bordeaux varietals and began planting grapes like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Carménère in the vineyards. Interestingly enough, Chile is one of the few regions in the world to be spared from the phylloxera epidemic that took place at the turn of the 19th Century, so be sure to hit the country’s wines up if old vines are your thing.

Prior to the 1980s, Chilean wine was not very good, which was super weird considering in terms of terroir, Chile kind of is a 10/10. With its snowcapped mountains and cooling ocean breezes, it’s kind of the perfect place to grow vines.

How Chile’s Political Climate Influenced Its Wine Industry

Like Eastern Europe, Chile had more than its fair share of political instability. In the 1970s, President Salvador Allende ruled the country under a socialist regime and in 1972 the economic outlook looked grim.

In 1973, the dicator and military general Augusto Pinochet led a millitary coup - or a junta - against the president. After Allende died, Pinochet installed himself as dictator.

The regime was a violent one, with thousands of people murdered and 30,000 people tortured. There were also the prisoners who disappeared - around 4,000 political discidents who vanished without a trace.

A group of Chilean students who attended an exchange program at the University of Chicago were educated by a professor, Milton Friedman, about a free market and went back to the country to share the philosophies with the dictator.

Augusto Pinochet began implementing these policies and ended the heavy trade restrictions instilled from the previous regime, according to an article on Vinepair. Under his rule, a portion of government-owned land got given back to the local owners, and upper-middle class business people purchased these plots to plant vines.

Some argue because of the economic policies during Pinochet’s regime, the seeds were later sewn for Chile’s massive thriving wine industry. It is without a doubt, extremely an extremely complicated bit of history to unpack.

Most Popular Wine Regions in Chile

Aconcagua Region: For Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir

Just slightly north of the Chile’s capital city, Santiago, the Anconcagua Valley sits about 3,300 feet above sea level and is framed by the Andes Mountains. With its higher altitude, warm daytime temperatures and ocean breezes, the Anconagua Valley is known for expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon further inland in places like the Maipo Valley. Coastal regions like the Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley are better known for grapes like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Central Valley Region: For Carménère, Cabernet Franc, Alicante Bouschet, Merlot

Some of the most fertile soils in the country exist in Chile’s Central Valley region. This wine producing region is the ultimate haven for red wine lovers. Some specific geographical regions to look for are the Maipo Valley, The Colchagua Province and the Maule Valley. The Central Valley has forests on its Southern side and snow capped volcanos further inland. Like all of the country, its climate is influenced by the cooling Humboldt Current. The Central Valley is known for Carménère, the country’s signature grape. If you’re into experimenting and want to give Pais a shot, check out wines from the Maule Valley.

The South Region: Good For País, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürtztraminer

The Southern Chilean wine region is known for hosting a cooler climate, making it the perfect place to grow Burgundian grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Regions like the Bio Bio Valley have extreme temperature shifts, and because of the fact its closer to the Southern Arctic, its the optimum place for growing cooler climate grapes. Be sure to check out Pinot Noir from the Itata Valley as well.

Pick of the Week: Prisma Pinot Noir $13.49 @ Whole Foods

Attention NorCal Pinot Noir-lovers: the Prisma Chilean Pinot Noir will be your fave BFF. I had forgotten how incredible Pinot Noir from this region can be, until I tasted this bad boy.

There’s a major savory, tart cherry and tomato-y thing going on with this beautiful light and transparent wine. It reminds me of a lot of the stuff coming out of the Russian River - except for a fraction of the price.

If you’re a Cali Pinot babe, but can’t stand spending all your hard-earned cash on overpriced Pinot, look no further than Prisma. Made from fruit that grows in a single vineyard - YES A SINGLE VINEYARD - in the Casablanca Valley and sustainably farmed, this wine is an incredible value.

Honestly? When I dipped into it and enjoyed it over the course of a week, the wine held up really beautifully and those fruity characteristics gave way to more savory, forest and gravel aromas as the wine aged. This is liquid proof of what an incredible region Chile is, and I definitely plan on enjoying more of this incredible wine region’s offerings!