Chilean Wine

Chile is a large and still growing source for inexpensive red and white wines. They are also growing more and more truly fine wines, such as Casa Lapostolle's Don Melchor. To date, they have made their mark with the same international varietals seen around the world: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

One interesting story that came out of Chile is the rediscovery of Carmenere. Originally a Bordeaux blending grape, it was not replanted in Bordeaux after phyloxera destroyed their vineyards around the turn of the 20th Century. At the end of that century, it was found growing in Chile, where it had been mistaken for Merlot. There is talk of Chile using Carmenere to distinguish itself from the pack, much as Malbec and done for Argentina.