Great Chilean Wines while Social Distancing

One consolation for much of the world practicing social distancing is we have more time to enjoy cooking food and drinking wine. As a consequence, at home wine consumption and online wine purchases have increased dramatically. When you buy online with more time on your hands, it’s also easier to explore how many different types of wines are out there. While you can’t travel to Italy at the moment, you can at least try an Etna Rosso from Sicily for the first time to go with your pasta. At the same time, a lot of us have to watch our pocketbook while buying wine, especially these days. Therefore, for my first article in The Wine Diplomats, I want to give you some ideas for affordable Chilean wines to try during the pandemic.

If you’ve never been to Chile, don’t worry–not many people have. Maybe you recall this scene from There’s Something About Mary (no, not that scene). It’s literally at the end of the world. It’s a 4,270 km long country protected on one side by the Andes and the other side by the Pacific, providing temperate growing climates for wine throughout much of the country. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the last 3 years living in Santiago, so this blog is mainly to share some of the things I’ve learned about wine in Chile and wine culture in general. You can read more about Chilean wine and  wine in general in my resource sections along with over 700 Chilean wine tasting notes. So now on to my recommendations.     

First of all, I’m going to limit my selection to what I can find on wine.com, which ships to everywhere in the US and offers unlimited free shipping for a year with a one time fee of 49 dollars, and Movenpick Wines, which ships everywhere in the EU. Otherwise, go to wine-searcher.com to find the store closest to you that sells these wines.    

If you like Napa Cabernet but can’t afford to drink it every day, try a Cabernet from the Maipo Valley. The Haras de Pirque Gran Reserva Cabernet is a ripe, juicy and modern Cabernet that is ready to drink now. It is only $12 on wine.com. Haras de Pirque is now owned by Marchesi Antinori, the producer of high end Italian wines like Solaia and Tignanello. If you can’t find it, try a Cabernet from Perez Cruz ($16 wine,com), which is similar in style. If you like more classic Bordeaux cabernet, try Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas ($16 wine.com). It’s going to be more red fruited, elegant, minerally and herbal. Also, try this one to experiment with something more typically Chilean because many Chilean Cabernet and Carmenere have a green herbal quality. If you’re shopping in the EU, Escudo Rojo makes a modern style blend and Cabernet for $20. Escudo Rojo is the Spanish translation for Rothschild, the same family that owns the famous Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux. Around the same price from Movenpick, is the Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet, which is not from Maipo/Central Valley. It’s from the nearby Aconcagua Valley. It is in between modern and classic, but it’s consistent. All these can be drunk on their own or with red meat dishes.

Here are some choices if you’re into other red varietals. If you’re a Syrah/Shiraz fan, one of the few producers in Chile that specialize in Syrah is Polkura from the Colchagua Valley (at Movenpick for $24). It should be great with lamb or other game. If you like medium bodied rounder reds, consider trying the Carmenere grape. It’s basically an herbal Merlot and goes well with a lot of dishes. I would even try it with spicy food like Mexican. Chile relleno would be perfect with Carmenere. Here are two options: Errazuriz Max Reserva Carmenere at $22 and Maquis Carmenere at $17.