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A Brief History of Wine
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| Chile is as geographically unique
as it is rich in history. Its boundaries define a long and narrow
country, spanning over 4,000 kilometers of Pacific Ocean coastline
on the western edge of South America. The Andes Mountains, rising
over 5,000 meters, create a natural barrier between Argentina
on the east. Between the ocean and mountains, Chile is no more
than 480 kilometers wide at any point. To the south is Patagonia
a region with thousands of islands and fiords reaching to the
Antartic. In the north, the Atacama Desert, one of the world's
most arid climates, gives way to Chile's fertile central valley.
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| Within this land of diverse geography and varied
climates exist some of the finest wine-growing regions in the
world. |
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For images of Chile, click on this
picture of the Andes Mountains
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Click on this map
of Chile for a
larger view.
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| The Beginnings of the Chilean Wine Industry |
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| Winemaking in Chile began with the arrival of the
Spanish Conquistadors. Missionaries introduced grapevines to
Chile during the middle of the 16th century to supply wine for
religious ceremonies. Francisco de Aguirre reportedly planted
the first recorded vineyards in Chile on his land in Copiapo,
in the north of Chile. In 1554, Diego Garcia de Caceres planted
Santiago's first vineyard. Grapes from the Santiago area were
used to make wine for religious ceremonies, according to archives
dated as early as 1555. During the next 100 years the cultivation
of grapevines and the production of wine continued southward
to and beyond the Bio Bio River. |
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| The Spanish Crown Restricts the Growth of Chile's
Burgeoning Wine Industry |
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| Chilean wine production had become so widespread
and successful that in 1620, King Phillip II began issuing a
series of royal decrees prohibiting the planting of new grapevines.
The growth of Chilean wine production had begun to obstruct
the export of wine and fortified spirits from Spain. King Phillip
ordered a tax on the vineyards to secure Spain's share of the
world wine market. According to historian Francisco Encina,
settlers in Chile mostly ignored this decree and continued to
plant grapevines in spite of the prohibition. |
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| Look Out Europe! |
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| Between 1784 and 1789 in Chile, wine exports increased
dramatically and Chile began competing with European wines on
the international market. By 1831 there were well over 19 million
grapevines planted in Chile between Conception and Cauquenes.
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| The Beginnings of Chile's Modern Wine Industry |
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| In 1830, a Frenchman named Claude Gay convinced
the Chilean government to create a Quinta Normal de Agricultura,
a state-owned agricultural station. The main varieties of grapes
grown in Italy and France were introduced there for winemaking
and consumption. By 1850 the Quinta Normal had over 40,000 grapevines
and 70 different varieties. |
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| French Vine Cuttings Arrive, Chile Enters a Modern
Age of Winemaking |
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| In 1851 Don Sylvestre Ochagavia Echazarreta carried
today's most classic and internationally recognized varieties
from France to plant on his land in Talagante. Echazarreta introduced
the noble varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot
Noir, Sauvignon, Semillion and Reisling. These cuttings represented
a renaissance for winemaking in Chile. The vines adapted easily
to Chile's climate and soils and today, they are thought to
be the only pre-phylloxera clones that exist in the world. |
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| Commitment to Quality |
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| Prominent winegrowers began to plant the same European
varietals that Echazarreta had introduced to Chile. French winemaking
and vineyard experts were hired to oversee the planting of grapevines,
to manage the vineyards, and to produce and age wine as it was
done in Europe. These wealthy, aristocratic Chilean vintners
recognized the importance that vineyard and wine management
played in the quality of wines produced. |
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| The importation of European experts to the Americas
and the exchange of rootstocks between Europe and the Americas
is closely associated with the blight of Phylloxera, a vineyard
pest which devastated European vineyards in the 1880s. Chile
remains the world's only wine-producing nation where Phylloxera
has never been found. |
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| By the 1880's Chilean wines were being successfully
marketed and exported to Europe. The quality of Chilean wines
gained recognition at exhibitions and competitions culminating
in 1889 when Chilean wines were awarded the "Grand Prix"
at a prestigious Paris tasting. By 1938 Chilean vineyard acreage
grew to over 100,000 hectares, as wine exportation reached its
pre-war peak. |
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| Politics and World War II Thwarted the Thriving
Chilean Wine Industry |
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| During the 1940's with the onset of World War II,
the Chilean wine industry began a decline that lasted into the
1980's. Heavy taxes were imposed on the winemaking industry
and social policies designed to fight alcohol consumption drastically
hurt wineries and growers. In 1980, there were 106,000 hectares
of grapevines under cultivation, roughly the same number as
in 1938, although the population of Chile had almost doubled.
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| In the 1970's and 1980's domestic demand for Chile's
basic wines declined, causing grape prices to fall dramatically.
About half of Chile's vineyards were uprooted. The unstable
political climate at the time in Chile was another factor that
caused the wine industry to weaken. |
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| The Modern Recovery of the Chilean Wine Industry |
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| After the return of democracy in 1990, the Chilean
wine industry has slowly but steadily recovered. Between 1990
and 1993 10,000 hectares, have been planted to premium wine
grape varieties. Major investments have been made in modern
winemaking technologies and the focus has changed from quantity
for the domestic market to quality for export markets. |
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