Exceptional Cool-Climate Wines from Chile's Casablanca Valley

In preparation for TasteLive’s webcast with Agustin Francisco Huneeus to introduce Veramonte’s Ritual Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines from Chile on Friday, February 10, 2012, we wanted to better understand his family’s motivation to make such a deep commitment to producing fine wines in Chile. Along with providing us with a map to give us a visual of Chile and its climate, Agustin also shares his family’s well-founded reasoning for creating one of the world’s finest wine estates in South America.

TasteLive: Aside from your cultural heritage, why did your family choose to make such a complete commitment to growing grapes and making wine in Chile?

Agustin: Chile’s natural attributes equal an astonishing potential for wine. From the Atacama Desert to Antarctica, Chile is a virtual mirror of the North American West Coast. It encompasses many microclimates parallel in the diversity from the southern tip of Baha to the northern reaches of Alaska. Chile is also the only wine producing country in the world that is free of phylloxera and Pierce’s disease.

All of these attributes add up to a place with as much promise as any wine region in the world. My father went back to Chile to establish Veramonte because of these God-given conditions and to help Chile fulfill its destiny.

TasteLive: With such potential, why do you believe that so many people in the United States are just discovering the excellent quality and value of Chilean wines?

Agustin: Chile is more naturally suited for grape growing than perhaps any country in the world. If it weren’t for political and economic stumbles that got in the way of the grapes, Chile would today hold its place as one of world’s most important wine regions.

TasteLive: Can you elaborate on these economic and political stumbles?

Agustin: Certainly. What many people do not know is that Chile’s wine history began when the Spanish Conquistadors introduced grapevines in the 1500s. Vines flourished in Chile’s fertile soils and soon the wines rivaled those from Europe. Unhappy by this turn of events, Spain levied huge taxes on Chilean wineries, destroying the growing industry.

In the early 1800s, wealthy Chilean landowners traveled to Europe and especially to France. Inspired by the great wine culture of Bordeaux, they built beautiful wine estates, imported grapevine cuttings and seduced Europe’s best winemakers to Chile. Chilean wines began to win prizes at European exhibitions and by 1877, Chile was again exporting wine all across the world. This period of prosperity came to an end in 1902 when the government levied another tax on Chilean wineries.

Then, in the 1970s, socialists gained control of Chile. The entire country suffered from economic chaos and the development of the wine industry was stunted. By 1988, democracy returned to Chile and the world again welcomed Chilean wines.

TasteLive: So how would you describe Chile’s position in the world of wine today?

Agustin: Today, the Chilean wine industry is strong. In just the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in exports and a new, progressive viticulture environment has revived the wine industry. The most respected vintners from California and France have invested heavily in Chile, signaling that Chile is indeed a place of great promise.

Chile has also expanded its focus from its roots in Bordeaux to become an emerging player in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as vintners such as my father pioneered cool-climate regions like the Casablanca Valley. The fact that all of this has occurred in just the last twenty-five years speaks to Chile’s future potential. I am confident that Chile will continue to reemerge as a great and powerful winegrowing region.

TasteLive: These are clearly exciting times for both Chile and the Huneeus family, and it is with great expectation that we’ll be tasting the new releases of Ritual Wines from the Casablanca Valley.

Agustin: Yes, exciting times. We’ll see everyone live from La Mar restaurant in San Francisco this Friday. Salud!

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