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Why are Chilean wines getting the headlines in the
world market? Why do we find out that these days Chinese, American
and British consumers are drinking and paying compliments to Chilean
wines? With great confidence, well documented knowledge and plenty
of experience, we can tell you why.
Our product Wine Trails of Chile
is a comprehensive presentation of the history; the terroire
of the different valleys, the winemakers, the properties and the
different aspects which allow visitors to share a good glass of
wine with a local atmosphere, various small cozy hotels and guest
accommodation at the wineries located either facing the Andes or
the brisk winds of the Pacific Ocean.
History: First Vines in
Chile
The conquest and evangelization of the American continent by the
Spaniards in the name of God and the King, gave rise to the need
for cultivation of the vine, in order to obtain the sacramental
wine necessary for the celebration of the Catholic mass. Fortunately,
this need to cultivate was extended democratically to satisfy the
palates both of the men of cloth as well as those of our lay ancestors.
There is no existing proof of the presence of the vitis
vinifera on the American continent before the arrival of
Christopher Columbus on October 12th, 1492. The initial crop of
the first seeds of grape and vine shoots brought by the Spaniards,
from the Canary Islands it is believed, to the Spanish Antilles,
failed because of problems of adaptability to the climatic conditions.
Later, in 1531 in Mexico, the first successes were achieved under
Hernán Cortés at higher altitudes under more suitable
climatic conditions.
By the midst of the XVIth Century,
the vine had arrived in Cuzco, Peru, the cultural center of the
Andean region and base of operations for the Spanish conquest of
the southern cone. Chile and Argentina were the logical destinations
for the vines, which accompanied the conquerors.
It is alleged that it was Francisco de Aguirre, one of the contemporaries
of the conqueror Pedro de Valdivia, who in 1549 made the historic
step of planting vineyards around La Serena and Copiapó,
fertile valleys north of Santiago. Other chroniclers attribute this
historic achievement to Juan Jufre, who began his viniculture activities
in 1553 in the Maule region, near Talca, and later on continued
them in Peñalolén in the Andean foothills outside
Santiago. Fortunately, this unresolved chronological dispute left
the Andean Cordillera and the Pacific Ocean as the great geographical
barriers which Mother Nature gave to Chile to protect her vines
against the terrible Philoxera disease, the great enemy of the wine
industry which made its appearance in Europe in 1863, spreading
around the world and wiping out many of the renowned grape plantations.
1883: The French Contribution
The XIXth century was witness not only to the arrival from France
of anarchistic ideas of independence, but also to one of the great
contributions to the Chilean viticulture and viniculture industries.
Fine French grapevine stock and European technicians were imported
by wealthy Chilean landowners who were visionary enough to see the
need to update their vines with the best the market had to offer
at that time. The climate, the soil and the light were the raw materials.
They needed to be assisted by an improvement of the vine stock:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc. France and
Germany provided these, together with enologists and expertise.
1980: Tradition & Modernity:
Oak & Steel
A second revolution was begun in the wine industry in Chile: the
technological revolution. Chilean entrepreneurs and experts traveled
to Europe —mainly to France and Spain— and the States
beginning a process of structural and conceptual change of great
magnitude.
Vines & Wines for Professionals
and Wine Lovers
The conquest of international markets. The contacts with North American
entrepreneurs in Napa and Sonoma Valley in California continued
to grow, and have provided the basis for another huge, aggressive
change: that of commercialization. The fact that Chilean wine was
good was not enough. It was indispensable to make that knowledge
widely available on the world market and, to a large extent, through
the established channels for international trade. Solitary wine
salesmen have little success. The politics of strategic alliances
in the fields of investigation, technological development and commercialization
is a variable, which Chileans are well aware of and have adopted
as their own. Chilean wines have been included in one of the pavilions
of the new "wine city" —Vinópolis—
to be open on the south bank of the River Thames, in London. This
is a place where the old and traditional meets the new and creative.
Both —traditional and new— have only one thing in common:
they want to be included in this group of the chosen ones, that
is, the quality wines.
Professional Delegations
In the introduction of foreign capital and
experts, the Spaniard Miguel Torres holds a distinguished place
in the process of internationalization of Chilean wines, showing
his commitment by establishing a pioneering operation in the valley
of Curicó. He has been followed by several of the world's
elite: Baron Rothschild from France and Robert Mondavi from California,
just to name a few. Steel vats are the latest technological innovation,
the new companions to the old romantic oak barrels from Kentucky
or France. Varieties under cultivation are: Reds: Cabernet Sauvignon,
Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Merlot; Whites: Sauvignon Blanc,
Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. Foreigners
have bought vineyards and land, and have invested and formed partnerships
with Chilean entrepreneurs. They listen, give advice and do well
in this warm country, where conditions for the cultivation of the
vine are ideal and, we assume, where they have or hope to have,
no small economic recompense.
The volume of wines exported and world market prices of Chilean
wines are constantly increasing. Statistics are on the rise and
the industry is congratulating itself on these years of bonanza.
Wine Tasting
Wine bars and wine clubs are becoming a positive trend in the choice
of cozy restaurants and pubs in areas of Santiago such as El Bosque
and Bellavista. They all display a wide variety of Chilean wines
both from the more long-established labels as well as from new emerging
vineyards.
Wine and Gourmet Gastronomy
The creative fountain pen and imagination of writer Isabel Allende
have led Chilean contemporary literature. A must for wine and gourmet
lovers is her book on cuisine, "Aphrodite". On the practical
side, although Chilean cuisine as such has not yet achieved a definitive
reputation, there is an emerging trend of good gastronomic offers.
Those initiated in the Art of Cooking can make the most of the extraordinary
advantages this country has to offer in terms of raw materials:
the best seafood, incomparable, fresh vegetables, fruit and spices
are all found in this long narrow country.
We speak of wine culture. It is understood that
we are facing one the expressions of an art —the art of making
and drinking good wine. Dionisius amongst the Greek gods and Bacchus
of the Romans are a light to the lovers of the sacred extract of
grape. In South America there exists a handful of poets like Rubén
Darío, Pablo Neruda and Jorge Borges, who have written odes
and literary notes of thanks to their faithful companion, wine.
Wine tours
Both, in Chile and in Argentina, from half day to 10 days —are
our main asset. Ace Turismo has organized trips for American, French
and British clients which include University of Bordeaux; Wine Trails
of England and American wine lovers. All our itineraries are custom-made,
including visits and wine tasting at the most prestigious wineries,
both older, established traditional vineyards and small (boutique)
wineries.
We organize tours and wine visits to the many different
wineries distributed in the Casablanca, Aconcagua, Maipo, Colchagua,
Maule, Apalta and other valleys. Our tours are all tailor-made for
our clients. Be they enologists, winemakers, sommeliers, wine collectors
or members of wine clubs.
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This
special interest mixes well with:
- Fly Fishing
- Gastronomy
- Golf
- Opera
- Skiing in Valle Nevado and Termas
de Chillán
- Soft Adventure
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