The 2012 Hot List: Chile

The reshaping of Chile's wine image from "value producer" to "valuable producer"

Posted February 13th, 2012

by Anthony Gismondi

Chile continues to struggle to reshape its image in most international markets from that of value wine producer to one of a valuable producer as it heads down the inevitable path of wines-made-by-someone-that-come-from-somewhere.

The new Chile is awash in appellations or designated zones of production that signal a willingness on everyone’s part to produce precision wines. Chile’s unique shape (long and thin), and its location crammed between the snow-covered Andes and the cold Pacific Ocean, has inspired its producers to further delineate their wines as coming from the coast (Costa), between the mountains (Entre Cordilleras) or from the foothills to the east (Andes). Demarcating wine zones with an eye to temperature and elevation makes a lot of sense, especially when it’s laid over more traditional appellations.

As difficult as it might be for some to accept, it is more logical than granting certain areas “grand cru” or “premier cru” status for life, no matter who is making the wine or how they care for the property. Clearly, Chilean wine’s future is as bright as it is valuable.