Chile 

Chile can boast the oldest winemaking history, among the South American countries; it dates back to the conquest of the Spaniards, around 1550. It certainly takes advantage of a very favorable geographical and climatic position for the production of wine and, last but not least, the great availability of water for irrigation plays an important factor: in practice, it it is snow that melts from the peaks of the Andes and then discharges into the Pacific Ocean and which represents a very precious resource. Chile has oriented its oenology towards wines from international grapes , but still managing to define a very distinctive production style. The best wines of Chile are probably the ones based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère , produced in all price ranges, from the more “current” ones to the more elegant and refined ones. Pais , the first grape to be cultivated in Chile, is mainly used for the production of table wines.  Among the white grape varieties, Chardonnay and Sauvignon certainly stand out. The viticultural areas are mostly located in the valleys, which extend from Valparaiso up to Bío-Bío . The main wine-growing areas are in the north, in the valleys of Aconcagua and Casablanca , while in the center we find the so-called “ Central Valley ”, formed by the valleys of Maipo , the most famous area, Rapel , Curicó and Maule . As far as the Quality System is concerned, there are no strict disciplinary rules; in particular, if a wine mentions the region of origin, a single grape variety or the vintage year on the label, at least 75% of the grapes or wine must comply with what is declared on the label.