The first vines brought to Chile came via Spanish Conquistadors as early as the 1500s. Immigrants from Europe would bring more varieties to Chile, especially from Bordeaux in the 1800s. As of 2020, 70 percent of Chilean wine production is exported.
Bordeaux is the most famous wine-growing region in the world, with a reputation for producing wines that have been the benchmark for wine makers world wide. But did you know that the area used to be a marshy swamp? Vineyards were planted in small areas, but most of the land was unusable marsh or swamp land. Enter the Dutch!
Many believe that Carménère originated in Chile, South America due to the number of Carménère varietal wines on wine store shelves; however, its origins lie in the left bank of Bordeaux.
Many wines that you are familiar with are blends including wines from Bordeaux and the Rhone valley. Wines labelled as Meritage, Cava and Port are blends. Champagne, Rioja and Priorat can be blends, too.
Most people expect wine to have various fruit flavors, but vegetable flavors? What’s up with that?
