Brief introduction to the wine regions of Chile
September 4, 2011
About Wines from Chile
Best wine supplier in Philippines discusses wine related topics
The Spanish first established vineyards in Chile in the mid-sixteenth century, and Chile has maintained a thriving wine industry for its home market for several centuries. Chile’s wine industry has grown considerably since the mid-1980s, with rapid development as a strong export market, and a shift toward French grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay.
With the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes Mountains to the east, Chile is an isolated country. Chile also has a range of mountains along the coast, which blocks the ocean dampness from most vineyards, and the ocean’s general tempering influence on a relatively hot climate.
Chile’s wine regions
From north to south, here’s a summary of Chile’s wine regions today, both old and new:
• Limari Valley: A small region northwest of Santiago, near the Pacific Ocean. Although the climate is hot and dry — it’s nearer to the equator than any of Chile’s other important regions and close to the Atacama Desert — its unique microclimate, caused by its proximity to the Pacific, features cooling morning fog and ocean breezes that blow through the Valley during the day. Chile’s three largest wineries, Concha y Toro, San Pedro, and Santa Rita, all have bought land in Limari. Promising wines so far are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Syrah.
• Aconcagua Valley: North of Santiago, Aconcagua Valley is named for the country’s highest mountain, the magnificent Mount Aconcagua and is one of the warmest areas for fine grapes. But Aconcagua also includes many cooler high-altitude sections. Cabernet Sauvignon grows especially well here, and more recently, Syrah. Viña Errázuriz is Aconcagua Valley’s most important winery.
• Casablanca Valley: The first-established of the newer Chilean wine regions, it’s still one of the best. Some of Chile’s finest Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs grow in one part of Casablanca, while good Merlots and Pinot Noirs come from a more mountainous part. Veramonte is Casablanca’s best-known winery.
• San Antonio Valley: This tiny valley, south of Casablanca Valley and next to the ocean, is arguably Chile’s most exciting new region. Pinot Noir and Syrah are growing especially well on its cool, steep slopes. Now making one of the world’s best Pinot Noirs outside of Burgundy and a fine Syrah, Viña Matetic is the winery to watch in San Antonio Valley.
• Maipo Valley: Chile’s most-established wine region, just south of Santiago, Maipo Valley is home to most of the country’s wineries. Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, and Almaviva are a few of Maipo’s premium producers. Cabernet Sauvignon is king in this region, and Merlot also does very well.
• Cachapoal Valley: The large Rapel Valley, south of Maipo Valley, has two main wine regions, Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley. Cachapoal Valley, nearer the Andes, is a red wine region, and is strong in Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Morandé and Altair are two rising star wineries here.
• Colchagua Valley: Ocean breezes have transformed the formerly quiet Colchagua Valley into one of Chile’s most important new red wine regions. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah grow especially well here. Colchagua’s two leading wineries are Casa Lapostolle and Montes.
• Curicó Valley: One of Chile’s oldest and largest wine regions, the Curicó Valley is directly south of Rapel Valley. Because of its diverse microclimates, both red and white varieties grow well here. The huge San Pedro Winery and Viña Miguel Torres are located in Curicó.
• Maule: Maule Valley is Chile’s largest wine region in area, and also the southernmost of its important wine regions. Because it’s so huge, it has many diverse microclimates, and both red and white varieties grow well, especially Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Viña Calina is Maule Valley’s best-known winery.
The styles of Chile’s wines
Chile’s wines generally lack the exuberant fruitiness of Californian and Australian wines. And yet they’re not quite as subtle and understated as European wines. Although red wines have always been Chile’s strength, today the white wines, especially those from cooler regions, are very good. Chile’s Sauvignon Blancs are generally unoaked, while most of the Chardonnays are oaked.
Chile’s wines are generally named for their grape varieties; they carry a regional (or sometimes a district) indication, too. The reasonable prices of the basic wines — mainly from $6 to $10 in the United States — make these wines excellent values.
SOURCE: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-wine-regions-of-chile.html
Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.
Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.
This is one of the frequently visited places for wine lovers from Manila and Angeles City to buy international wines in Pampanga.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
(045) 841 4006 / 0922-870-5173 / 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com
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Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
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Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.
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Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion
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