Wine Managers from across Central Market came together last week to travel to South America in a quest of learning. They spent 7 days traveling across Argentina and Chile focusing on the cultural aspects of wine making in South America. They visited numerous vineyards inspecting the soil, clones and tasting the finished product. Through this process, they gained a better understanding of the finished product that we import to our stores. 

Heidi, our Wine Manager, took the task to heart and playfully jokes that she climbed the Andes Mountains to bring our customers exciting new products with great value! Be on the lookout for some exciting new wines from different regions of Argentina and Chile.

Argentina has 6 main regions with different varietals produced in each. Salta is known for very aromatic Torrontes while La Rioja is known for a more subtle Torrontes.  Catamarca and San Juan are characterized by excellent Syrah varieties. Mendoza has the best Malbecs in the world and only has 7% of the region under vine. Patagonia has excellent Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay.

Chile is divided into 6 valleys for producing wine. The Elqui Valley is largely dedicated to producing Muscatel grapes, traditionally used in making pisco. The Limari Valley is the perfect location for producing red varieties, but there are also outstanding Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc produced here as well. The Maipo Valley is the only wine region in the world that is located within the urban limits of the capital city with more than 6,000,000 inhabitants. This is where the country's best Cabernet Sauvignon wines are produced. 

Casablanca Valley has experienced a great growth in wine in recent years and has excellent conditions for white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.  The valleys of San Antonio have climatic conditions that favor slow ripening and the production of elegant white wines such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  Colchagua Valley is in the heart of the huaso tradition in Chile and offers a Wine Route that takes visitors through wineries, towns and museums to show their important cultural heritage. The Bio Bio Valley produces such grape varieties as Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer. Some areas of this valley have similar conditions to those found in the northern regions of France.