Chilean wine: an expert guide and the best bottles to buy

A guide to Chilean wine

Chile is the fifth largest wine producer in the world, producing more wine than Australia, South Africa and its neighbour Argentina, so it is no surprise that it is the source of so many bottles found on the shelves of our supermarkets and corner shops.

Although Chile has been cultivating grapevines since the 16th century, when they were brought by the Spanish conquistadors, wine really took off in the 19th century. The dry climate and high altitudes saved the country from the ravages of phylloxera, the deadly insect that destroyed almost all of Europe’s vineyards at the time, so there was an influx of winegrowers and winemakers, mainly from France, who brought their grapes and know-how with them. As a result, most of the grapes grown here are well-known French varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the most common; Chile’s signature red grape, Carmenere, originally from Bordeaux, is virtually extinct in France.

It is a thin strip of country, clinging to the eastern coast of South America and stretching for more than 4,000km, from the arid Atacama Desert in the north to the harsh sub-zero temperatures of Patagonia in the south, surrounded by the Andes mountain range and the Pacific Ocean. These diverse terroirs are reflected in the wines; those from the cool coastal regions and those from the high Andes tend to have more freshness and acidity than the plush, very ripe styles found in the warmer valleys of the interior.

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While Chile’s modern wine industry is best known for producing wines that hit the mark when it comes to delivering what so many budget-conscious drinkers crave, or for expensive, brutal reds with lots of oak, extraction, additives and alcohol, there is a positive trend towards a more delicate treatment of grapes and an increasing number of innovative producers experimenting with different grapes and production methods to make modern wines with distinctive personalities. Cin cin, Chile!

The best Chilean wine to buy

Luis Felipe Edwards Macerao Orange

Founded in 1976, Luis Felipe Edwards is today Chile’s largest 100% family-owned producer, responsible for millions of bottles of reliable, easy-drinking and affordable wine produced under many labels. This shows its more experimental side: an orange wine made from 60-year-old muscatel grapes fermented on their skins with wild yeasts and then bottled unfiltered. A truly accessible orange wine; aromatic with seductive hints of apricot, rose petals and ginger, and also excellent value for money.

Errazuriz Wild Fermentation Chardonnay 2022

Another big producer, Errazuriz has been around for 150 years and makes well-priced wines that are found in all the major retailers. This is a step beyond their basic ranges – the grapes are cooled by ocean breezes and wild-fermented and given a gentle oak treatment in French barrels. It’s silky and rich, with peachy fruit and a bit of spice, but wonderfully refreshing with a crisp, saline finish.

Viña Echeverría, Cariñena ‘It’s not Pituko’

From a family-run winery now run by four brothers, “No es pituko” means “Not fancy” and is the label for their range of wonderful natural wines. The French grape carignan is rare to find in Chile, but here it is used with great aplomb – bright and cheerful, with bags of late summer fruit, some mountain herbs and a bit of earthy growl. A wine with attitude.

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