Chile’s wine regions, Casas del Bosque
While the Chilean wine industry can trace its roots back nearly five hundred years, it can also be argued that, at the present time, high quality Chilean wines should be considered as virtual newcomers on the expansive international wine vista.
The country’s initial plantings can be traced back to the mid 1500’s, when Catholic missionaries following the Spanish Conquistadores planted vines to alleviate their lack of sacramental wine to celebrate religious rites, an important t of their work in colonizing Chile. The missionaries called these initial plants “país” and they were similar to the mission vines found in early California. An area known as the Maipo Valley, located close to the Chilean capitol of Santiago, was deemed an excellent growing area and the infantile Chilean wine industry took its first roots. Similar attempts were made in other South American countries around this time, but only Chile proved to be a good enough climate for the vines to prosper, the first such location in what was then called the New World. Plantings were not limited to just the Maipo Valley, but extended all the way from Elqui in the North to the Bio Bio Valley in the south, a distance of over 930 miles. The initial results were moderate at best and eventually the country began producing a good deal of modest wine for local use.
French varietals, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, were introduced during the 1800’s and higher quality wines were soon forthcoming. Most of the new growers came from families that had made fortunes in the mining industry. They soon surrounded their lavish homes with acres of vineyards. However, after Chile’s emancipation from Spain in 1818, over a century of political instability ensued, hampering major advances in the fledgling country’s wine industry and even preventing any new vineyard plantings between 1937 and 1974.
Notable during this time was the fact that Chile (along with Argentina) was untouched by phylloxera epidemics that ravaged all of Europe and California, news that sent many French winemakers to Chile to work the vines while their own country’s problems were being solved. Thanks to a wonderful growing climate that combined unique features from both France and California, and a country free of the major disease of the era, the Chilean wine industry was able to survive despite the political turmoil.
Chile’s modern wine renaissance began as late as the 1970’s when political restrictions were relaxed and a number of outside wine forces came to Chile. Among them was noted Spanish winemaker Miguel Torres who chose Curico in Chile’s Central Valley as the place to establish his new winery that was complete with modern innovation, equipment and techniques. Following Torres’ lead, a number of other prominent international vintners sought out locations in Chile, including Californian Robert Mondavi. The presence of these internationally noted wine figures brought Chile the prestige necessary to begin competing at the highest international levels.
In the relatively short time of a little over twenty-five years, Chilean wines have excelled in international competitions and garnered an unusually large number of medals and awards. Today, Chilean wines are exported to more than 90 different countries and are still considered as wonderful values by many consumers worldwide.
From a handful of small wineries in the early 1980’s, sprouted more than sixty creditable wineries producing superior quality wines. In 1994, French ampelographer Jean Michel Boursiquot identified a forgotten French varietal called Carmenere that had been exported to Chile prior to France’s phylloxera problems and never replanted in France. The varietal has become the flagship of Chile’s new wave of winemaking and is now responsible for some of Chile’s finest wines. Though stunning, the varietal does have its drawbacks and is probably the slowest ripening of any varietal, including Cabernet Sauvignon.
Recently, Chilean wineries have surged forward and now rank fourth in sales to the United Sates, having replaced Spain in that position. An ever-increasing amount of superior quality wines have found their way to American shelves and restaurant lists and it is easy to concede that Chile has become one of the darlings of the international wine press. A recent agreement has made Chile’s Casablanca Valley a sister valley to Napa in California.
This is quite an accomplishment for a country that has overcome basic political inertia and trade isolation. It is interesting to speculate what the future holds for Chilean wines. Some industry experts predict an even greater future as the country’s burgeoning wine interests continue to expand.
http://www.goldmedalwineclub.com/newsletters/international_series/newsletter_90.php
Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.
This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.
Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.
Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.
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
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
YATS Wine Cellars
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.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
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
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:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
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.
A Well-known Restaurant in Pampnga, an interesting place to celebrate Birthday Party in Pampnga.
A best place to dine with friends in Pampanga
www.YatsRestaurant.com
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
www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
