If you’ve never tried a Chilean wine before and you’re a wine debutant, then I’d recommend trying a variety you already know you like so you can compare the Chilean version to what you normally drink. If you like Bordeaux or Napa, then try a Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo, Rapel or Aconcagua. If you like Merlot, then consider Carmenere or Merlot from the Rapel Valley. If you like Burgundy and Pinot Noir, then try a Pinot Noir from Casablanca or Leyda. If you like Tuscan wines like Chianti, then try a VIGNO from Maule. Lastly, if you like crisp clean whites, then any Sauvignon Blanc from Casablanca or Leyda will work. If you like more substantial whites, Sauvignon Blanc from the producers Calyptra and Laberinto make great Loire Valley or Bordeaux White ringers. There are similar equivalents with Chilean Chardonnay that are unoaked or oaked creamier versions. If you want something simple and rustic like a Beaujolais, then try a Chilean Pais. Most of the Chilean versions will be cheaper and just as good or better than their American and European counterparts.
If you’re already a wine enthusiast but just want to know what Chilean wine has to offer beyond cheap, international style Cabernet and Chardonnay, then I’d buy the following 6-pack of wines to get a sample of the best from the diversity of Chile.
1. A Carmenere from Colchagua, perhaps from a single vineyard like Los Lingues or Apalta. Maipo Valley Carmenere is maybe even better though if you can find one, such as De Martino’s classic Alto de Piedras. If you want to try Chile’s top Carmenere and have a larger budget, try Montes’ Purple Angel, Clos Apalta, Concha y Toro’s Carmin de Peumo or Errazuriz’s Kai. Antiyal’s unoaked Carmenere is also beautiful. It’s rare to find mono-varietal Carmenere from anywhere else in the world besides Chile, and it is considered Chile’s national grape. The best way to describe most Chilean Carmenere is it’s an herbal Merlot.
2. Any Sauvignon Blanc from Casablanca or Leyda. I’ve almost never been disappointed by a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc with seafood or on its own. They’re also cheaper and more consistent than New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in a similar style. However, try Laberinto or Calyptra Sauvignon Blanc for something more complex that can compete with Loire Valley and Bordeaux whites. Tabali Talinay Sauvignon Blanc and Casa Marin are also an excellent.
3. An unoaked, natural Pinot Noir from Montsecano or something like a Villard, Casa Marin, Montes Alpha or Ritual Pinot Noir if you like something a little more classic with oak. Amayna is closer to bolder Santa Barbara Pinot in style if you prefer those. You’ll be surprised how good it is given the price with prices for Pinot skyrocketing since the film Sideways came out. Baettig Los Primos and Errazuriz Las Pizarras are higher end Pinot that can compete other big labels around the world.
4. A Pais from Maule to get a taste of Chilean history from back in colonial times. Pais wines labeled Pipeno are done in a traditional, more rustic style. Others, like non-Pipeno Pais from Louis-Antoine Luyt are closer to elegant Burgundy or Beaujolais. Many of these comes from vines ranging from 150-400 years old, and the winemaking they often use also comes from that time. This is Chile’s true national grape. To find Pais abroad, you’ll generally have to find dealers/importers who specialize in natural wines.
5. Try some lesser known varieties or small producers. Try a VIGNO, or other old-vine Carignan from Maule if you like Italian style wines with more acidity. De Martino’s VIGNO is top-notch. If you like lighter, aromatic reds, then try old-vine Cinsault from Itata. In terms of independent producers, Garage Wine Company makes a variety of consistent wines from Maule if you want to support them and other independent producers from MOVI, an association of independent producers in Chile. If you’re in Chile, then be sure to check out Bocas Moradas or Chanchos Deslenguados tastings to taste even smaller producers and those focused on natural wine making.
6. Lastly, try one of the better Cabernet based wines from Maipo, Aconcagua, or the Rapel Valley to see how much it has improved in the last 20-30 years. If you can afford a Chadwick, Sena, Almaviva, Don Melchor, or Vik, then try one of those to compare it with your favorite pricier Napa or Bordeaux. If you’re working with a small budget, then try Tarapaca Gran Reserva or Perez Cruz Limited Edition Cabernet if you have more of a modern palate while Errazuriz’s mid-range wines like Max Reserva or Cousino Macul’s Finis Terrae or Antiguas Reservas are a little more classic. In between the mid-range and the most expensive wines, there’s also Domus Aurea and Aquitania Lazuli for great classic Cabernet.
Some honorable mentions: Cool climate Syrah. You can explore emerging wine regions in the deserts of Northern Chile or the extreme south in Patagonia.
See the Buying Wines section on where to find Chilean wine in your country, online and in Chile.
