Traditionally, the great fine wine regions have always been found in France – Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy all have a rich heritage. However, the world of winery is beginning to look beyond the narrow scope of French regions and into foreign territory. One of the biggest and most exciting regions to fall into favour with fine wine drinkers is South America. With a perfect climate for a wide variety of grapes – not to mention some exceptional scenery – South America has quickly become home to some of the best wine regions in the world. Better still, it is paying off in the most amazing way for enthusiasts and aficionados alike.
Chile and Argentina are the two biggest names in South American wine at the moment, cultivating some truly marvelous types. This post hopes to take a sneak peek into some of the best regions in these countries. So, if you are looking into tasting some of the best wine that South America has to offer, read on.
Chile
Chile’s climate is perfectly versatile for a huge range of varietal wines, ranging from the arid Atacama desert to the snow-capped peaks of Patagonia. Chile produces varieties including some of the classics – Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnays and Merlots.
Maipo Valley
This is Chile’s oldest and best known wine region and it provides the world with some truly inspired wine. With gorgeous vineyards and a solid range of French varietals, Maipo Valley is a great destination to sample South America’s finest.
Cachapoal Valley
The warm, Mediterranean climate found here is a true paradise for good grapes to grow. Expect to find a balance of Merlots, Chardonnays and Malbecs here. Better still, you can savour these wines in one of Cachapoal Valley natural hot springs.
Argentina
Argentina has an expansive landmass that is perfectly suited to vineyards. The love for different types of fine wine has taken over Argentina, but they have become renowned for their exquisite Malbec.
Mendoza
A small city, great climate and even better wine, Mendoza oozes charm. There is a lot of fine wine to be found in Mendoza – about two thirds of Argentina’s vineyards are found here. If you are tired of the Malbec (which is unlikely) you can sample their Chardonnay for a sweet, fruity white.
Salta
Although more known for its beautiful desert, Salta has recently embraced fine wine. With high altitudes and cold, mountain air, Salta has laid claim to some incredibly unique tastes. Their signature grape, the Torrontes, is predominantly grown here and makes an excellent, aromatic white wine.
