Tracing the History of Wine Making in Chile

Mankind has known and tasted wine for over ten thousand years. Among the leading wine producing countries, only three countries export more than 50% of production and Chile is one among them. It exports over 68% of its production. Between the 1960’s and now, Chile has witnessed a 34% growth of vineyard areas compared to 12% for the world.    

Chilean wines are now recognized across the world as evidenced by the rankings it gets in global events. In 2004 European experts blind tasted and awarded the first two places to Chile. In 2006 at the Tokyo Wine Tasting, Chile got four of the top five rankings

Early Years

Chile knew wine making ever the 16^th century when the Spanish Conquistadors came into that country and their missionaries brought in the knowledge for and the techniques of grapevines essentially for meeting the requirements of their religious ceremonies.

Francisco de Aguirre planted the earliest recorded vineyards in Chile in Copiapo. In Santiago Diego Garcia de Caceres who planted its first vineyard in 1554. The archives of 1500’s mention that the wine was used in the religious rituals.

The spread of the cultivation and wine-production spread towards the southern areas. The growth was so phenomenal that it began to adversely impact the Spanish producers. In 1620, you see decrees from King Philip II that banned new grapevines.

Despite the decrees, the trade in Chilean wine grew in great proportions. By the 1780’s, the Chiles began taking on the Europeans in the global trade. In mid 1800, it is reported that more than 19 million grapevines were being planted in Chile.

European Influence

Around this time, on the efforts of Claude Gay, the famous viniculturalist from Europe, Quinta Normal de Agricultura came into being under the ownership of the government. Gay brought about 60 different types including the Bordeaux types.  Within a very short time the Quinta Normal was engaged in 40,000 grapevines planting 70 different types.

Many consider, Silvestre Ochagavia, who brought the French varieties in 1851, as the first grower. Don Sylvestre Ochagavia Echazarreta introduced the well-known French varieties in his land in Talagante. The varieties he planted included  Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Semillion and Reisling. This ushered in the period of renaissance in the history of winemaking in Chile.

European varieties gained popularity among the Chilean winegrowers. Chileans engaged many French specialists to manage the grapevines and the vineyards. Around the 1880, the infamous vineyard pest known as Phylloxera almost wiped out the European vineyards. Till date, only Chile has retained the unique distinction of being the only nation where Phylloxera is never seen.

Recognition in Europe

By now, Chile earned great reputation and their wine was seen almost in all the countries in Europe and the rest of the world. The greatest recognition came to the Chilean wines when these won the "Grand Prix" at a prestigious Paris tasting. By 1930s the acreage of the Chilean vineyards was more 100,000 hectares.

Setback years

Between 1940 and 1980, the Chilean wine industry suffered setbacks on account of war, imposition of heavy taxation and social concerns about alcohol and the local political climate. Consequently domestic demand too took a beating. Over half of all the local vineyards disappeared.

Recovery

After the 1990s, the Chilean wine industry is gradually regaining its earlier status with greater thrust on exports. More investments and introduction of modern techniques and of premium varieties are witnessed in Chile.

Today

Though it has over four centuries, as for the wine industry, Chile retains its youthful vigor in adopting newer ideas to continue to be among the top in the world markets. Over 90 countries in 5 continents today import Chilean wines.