| Chile and Argentina are becoming more and more | | | | harvests are later, and aromatic expression is more |
| interesting as producing countries for the UK wine | | | | complex. And of course there is Elqui and Limari in the |
| market. We have long known that Chile produces | | | | north; 4 hours drive from Santiago towards the start |
| wines that stylistically suit our market and at good | | | | of the Atacama Desert - wonderful growing |
| value prices and our buying director Emma Roberts | | | | conditions. |
| introduced many new suppliers after her visit two | | | | We have also come across new suppliers, organic |
| years ago. Argentina is an emerging producing nation | | | | suppliers, old stalwarts such as Los Vascos doing |
| and therefore well worth exploring. Personally I hadn't | | | | great things (a tip, try maturing their normal Cabernet |
| visited either for 11 years, and so this year's trip was a | | | | for a couple of years - it ages beautifully) so watch |
| real eye-opener. | | | | this space for next year. |
| Fundamentally Chile is a completely different country | | | | Argentina is a total contrast. The economic troubles |
| today than it was even 5 years ago, let alone 11! | | | | the country has experienced since devaluation in 2001 |
| Santiago now feels like a modern, bustling international | | | | are quite plainly illustrated by the number of ancient |
| city. I was amazed by how many producers are new, | | | | cars still on the roads! But boy is its wine industry |
| and how many new vineyards in virgin sites have | | | | getting interesting. New plantings in cooler areas like |
| been planted in the last 5-7 years. The really exciting | | | | Tupungato are making lovely fragrant Sauvignons, |
| aspect of this is the emergence of regional | | | | Torrontes, and rich yet unheavy Malbec. Malbec really |
| differences in wines produced. The cooler areas | | | | is a speciality here, reaching new heights (literally in the |
| nearer to the coast on the west and the Andes in the | | | | high altitude vineyards) of richness and sophistication. |
| east are seeing plantings of Sauvignon and Pinot Noir | | | | There are new boutique small production wineries |
| and other cooler climate varietals. Vineyard areas such | | | | springing up that are making some lovely, handcrafted |
| as San Antonio and Leyda near the Pacific (which I | | | | wines. |
| hadn't realised is very cold in Chile due to the Humboldt | | | | The 24 hour trip home (a tip, try to avoid any lengthy |
| Current) did not even exist a decade ago. Growers | | | | waits between connections at Sao Paolo airport - |
| are also planting further south in cooler, more marginal | | | | there is nothing to do there!) was well worth it and the |
| areas towards the Antarctic. In more traditional areas | | | | visit has proved to be one of the most satisfying for |
| producers are moving from the fertile, valley floors to | | | | many years. |
| the slopes at higher altitude, where yields are lower, | | | | |