Chile is considered a New World wine region along with its neighbor Argentina, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Its most planted varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère, all native to France (considered part of the Old World), but the last of which is unique to Chile for its unlikely success story.
Carmenère, a bold and peppery red wine, is one of the varieties that was nearly lost during the European phylloxera outbreak in the mid 1800s. Though native to North America, the louse’s notoriety traces back to the 1860s when an outbreak that began in a Rhone vineyard in the south of France spread across the continent.
An article from Scientific Reports outlines the extent of the damage: “Grape phylloxera appearance almost destroyed European viticulture, and it provoked the most radical switch in viticultural practices of the last two centuries, when grape growing changed from the use of own-rooted V. vinifera plants to their grafting onto partially-resistant American non-vinifera Vitis spp. or hybrids used as rootstocks.”
During this time, Chile remained unscathed by the pest as a result of its isolated location. Today, strict agricultural import regulations contribute to Carmenère’s ability to flourish throughout the country—and on original rootstock rather than the grafted method that most wineries have adopted since phylloxera.
Carmenère may be a signature of Chilean wine, but the long and narrow geography of the country permits ideal growing conditions for a variety of other grapes, including the aforementioned Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as well as Syrah and Petit Verdot for red wine, and white varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and some pockets of Chardonnay.
There are six main wine regions in Chile—from north to south: Atacama, Coquimbo, Central Valley, South, Austral, Aconcagua—and 17 sub-regions. The most prominent growing regions for Sauvignon Blanc are to the west of Santiago in the Casablanca and Leyda Valley (Aconcagua region). The Central Valley, namely the Colchagua and Maipo sub-regions, are more prominent for their production of Chile’s bold, spicy red wines. Further north, the Elqui Valley (in the Coquimbo region) is famed for producing all three of the country’s dominant styles—Carmenère, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc.
Chile’s red wines are characteristically robust and spicy, yet with low tannins that permit a balanced and fruity palate. White wines are zesty—generally offering a fresh yet full body.
10 Chilean Wine Producers
Below, discover 10 Chilean wine producers that are worth seeking out at your local wine shop.
This Santa Cruz-based winery produces one of the most famed bottles of majority Carménère. The most recent release (2020) is 92 percent Carménère and 8 percent Petit Verdot with a quintessential showing of the grape; ripe blue fruit on the nose and a structured palate with hints of dark chocolate and coffee from the wine’s 18 months in French oak barrels. Pair with rosemary lamb chops.
Tucked into the Cachapoal Valley in Millahue, this award-winning winery is renowned for its Bordeaux style VIK label. The latest release (2019) comprises 77 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 23 percent Cabernet Franc for a silky wine bursting with fresh red fruit. Pair with short ribs.
A Colchagua Valley favorite, Laura Hartwig produces some incredible single vineyard Carmenère and is one of the only Chilean wineries to bottle 100 percent Petit Verdot. However, their signature Edicion de Familia red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, is also a real treat. Pair with flank steak smothered in chimichurri.
This majority Cabernet Sauvignon is softened with small amounts of Carmenère, Grenache, Petit Verdot for a juicy ripe cherry and spicy, herbal sip. The structure stands up perfectly to char-grilled meats of an asado.
Produced from a selection of Viu Manent’s best vineyards, all within the Colchagua Valley, El Incidente is one of Viu Manent’s four Icon labels. The red wine is a blend of majority Carmenère and Malbec (in 2020, 85 percent to 15 percent, respectively). The wine is undeniably intense with a distinct spice that’s a powerful complement to a dish like duck confit.
With its winery located in Palmilla in the Colchagua Valley, MontGras produces some stellar red varieties, including Ninquen, a favored blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Yet, they also have vineyards in the Leyda Valley, which is where their Amaral Sauvignon Blanc is grown. The mineral-forward wine is refreshing with pronounced grapefruit notes that pair expertly with fresh goat cheese or a green salad.
This Carmenère-based red blend from Estampa’s Marchigüe vineyard in the Colchagua Valley is the winery’s premier label. Syrah and Petit Verdot are the minority additions to this limited production wine that spends 18 months in French oak barrels prior to bottling. The texture is pure velvet punctuated by tasting notes of ripe red fruits mingling with licorice and subtle oak. Pair with pulled pork.
This family style vineyard in San Fernando produces their Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc with fruit sourced from the Paredones vineyard, lying seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. The coastal locale shines in the wine with a savoriness that’s lightened by pineapple and green apple. Pair with simply grilled or pan-seared halibut.
Viña Errázuriz lies northwest of Santiago in Valparaíso, part of the Aconcagua Valley. This Chardonnay is part of their Aconcagua Cuvée range that pays tribute to the region they’ve called home since 1870. It’s a wine characterized by tropical fruits with some citrus and nutty notes. Pair with cheese and charcuterie.
The four varieties in Casas del Bosque’s limited production Pequeñas portfolio offer a distinct snapshot into some the brand’s most exclusive parcels. Pequeñas Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from grapes planted in the Casablanca Valley in 1993’ the wine is aged for 6 months in steel and barrels on its fine lees. The nose is quite neutral but the palate showcases peach blossom and tangerine with a grippy structure imparted by the black clay soils. Pair with oysters on the half shell.