"chilean wine" news and stories

If you ask us, Chile is the new California. Affordable, high-quality wines are emerging from this southern region of South America at a very fast pace.

In terms of red wines, look for Carmenère. This red-grape varietal all but disappeared from Europe during the 19th century but reappeared in Chile in the 1860s. "We call it the lost grape from Bordeaux," says Héctor Vergara, South America's only Master Sommelier and the guy who determines the mostly-Chilean wine list for travelers on LAN Airlines. Chile is the only country producing Carmenère – which is full of blackberries and spices – commercially.

After the jump, find our six favorites from recent tastings of Chilean red wines – and not just Carmenère, but other red-grape varieties too.

As part of a trip to address climate change and promote environmental sustainability, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (i.e. Charles and Camilla) stopped in at Vinedos Emiliana, a Chilean winery that produces sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines, for a tasting and tour.

I don't know what Charles thought of the wines, but Americans like them. Emiliana's Natura line is the bestselling imported organic wine in the $12-$14 category.

They make a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere, and if you haven't tried them, you should, because they have the coveted trifecta of wines: inexpensive, taste good and good for the environment.