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Chile's quality and prestige has earned its wineries
international status among the leading producers. Chilean
wine imports have taken a monumental leap in the number
of wineries. Chile's natural resources and vastly
improved production processes have contributed to the success
of the country's wines. The land also shares the geographic
advantages of the natural barrier created by the Andes Mountains,
Atacama Desert, Patagonia and the Pacific Ocean, which protects
the vines against many diseases including phylloxera.
Due to the rainfall concentrated in the winter; a long
dry period in the summer and high temperature differences
between night and day, provide near perfect conditions for
growing wine grapes. The most important grape types remain
the traditional red and white Bordeaux varieties, with Chardonnay
receiving more and more attention.
Chilean wines have intense fruit flavor, excellent value
and consistent quality. The wine laws are similar to those
in California, where wines are marketed primarily by varietal
labeling rather than by regional appellations. Chile can
boast about having the only pre-phylloxera wines in the
world. Among vintages, there is much consistency due to
the ideal growing environment.
The classification system parallels that of Spanish wines.
Vineyards encompass three, levels of wines: Classic varietals,
Reserve and Gran Reserva. Reserve and Gran Reserva wines
are aged in French Oak Barrels. Distinguished by their clean,
fruit-driven style, these wines, with an unbeatable price-to-quality
ratio, compare favorably with those from the best wine regions
in the world.
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