Cultural Essentials: An Overview Of Chilean Wine

If you are going to Spanish school in Santiago

, you probably want to limit the amount of alcohol you drink during your trip so that you can remain alert during your classes. However, with that word of caution aside, it is imperative that you sample the world-renowned local wines when you are not studying for your Spanish classes in Chile. Currently, there are over 70 wineries in the country. Chile is one of the top world exporters and producers of wine.

Wine has long been important to the country. When the conquistadors colonized the area in the 1500s, they brought vines with them for producing wine. Jesuit priests continued to cultivate the vineyards, as they needed the wine for their ceremonies. However, there was a major setback to the area's wine industry in the 1600s. Wine made in Chile and Peru was banned in Spain, and colonial law forced Chileans to buy most of their wines from Spain. Therefore Chilean grapes ended up making Pisco, and wine production suffered.

In the 1800s, wine varieties from France like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were introduced to Chile. Sweet wines made from the Pais and Muscatel grapes became very popular. Ultimately, the country of France influenced Chilean winemaking more than Spain did. Wealthy Chileans traveled to France, imported French vines for their property, and produced their own wine. During this time, the French were battling a phylloxera insect infestation, and their vineyards were in ruin. Winemakers from France often traveled to Chile to make their wine. Of course, this trend benefited the Chileans as they learned a great deal from the French.

One of the reasons that wine has thrived in Chile is the climate, which has been described as similar to that of California and France. Currently, vineyards thrive along an 800-mile stretch of land that runs from the Atacama Region to the southern Bio-Bio region. The water used to irrigate the vineyards typically comes from Andean snowmelt. The temperatures in the wine regions are very temperate and considered to be Mediterranean. If you are attending Spanish school in Santiago, the vineyards you can visit in that region include Via Santa Rita, Via Concha y Toro and Via Undurraga.

The fact that Chile has natural boundaries like the Pacific Ocean, the Andes Mountains, and the Desert is believed to be the reason that it is protected from phylloxera infestations. Some people believe that this allows the wine to be purer in flavor. In any case, there is no doubt that freedom from these pests allows the wine industry to be more profitable. The costly process of grafting to rootstocks is not necessary in Chile.

Chilean wine is currently quite popular in America, as well as in the UK and Japan. There are currently over 20 grape varieties growing in Chile. If you expose yourself to the country's wine when you attend Spanish classes in Chile, you will be intimately familiar with it by the time you return home. You will be able to impress your friends and family with your wine knowledge and expertise.

by: Ken Ingraham

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