Wine flight to Chile

Jason Clarke, Gleaner Writer

From the valleys of Mendoza, Argentina, up the Andes Mountain and across the border, is our next wine stop - Chile. Now boarding flight #003 to Chile. Welcome to the first-class lounge. Relax and enjoy the flight. In the event of an emergency, please keep calm and take a sip.

Like other wine regions, Chile also has its signature varietal - the Carménère. Originally from France, this grape has found its home in Chile and has flourished. This is the deepest, darkest and purplest of all red grapes. It has the intense aromas of tobacco, tar, coffee, and dark fruit. For the new wine drinker, this may not be something you immediately enjoy, but for the more experienced palate, this is a smooth wine with well-rounded tannins. Carménères are great with steak, pork, chicken, pasta, not to mention that lovely Indian curry we all enjoy.

Quite often we hear wine aficionados use the word 'tannin'. Winefoley.com describes tannins as a textural element that makes wine taste dry. Tannin adds acidity and astringency as well as complexity. It comes from the skin and seeds of the grapes during the fermentation process. So well rounded tannins are not like the curves of a gorgeous woman, but more the balance that makes them super yummy. The presence of tannins is what makes wine age-worthy.

Cabernet Sauvignon is king

Although the Carménère is a signature wine of Chile, its king is the Cabernet Sauvignon with over 40,000 hectares of vines. Chile's Cabernet Sauvignon ranges from easy drinking, fruit friendly to a mind-blowing, toe-curling, wow factor. My first experience with a toe-curling Chilean 'cab' was a few years ago, with a Primus cab. I haven't been able to find it recently, but that was a great bottle of wine! It's something that you would want to open for a special occasion rather than your typical Thursday evening wine and dine. Some of the better Cabernet Sauvignons come from Colchagua (Kohl-CHA-gwa) Valley and Maipo Valley (which are listed on the labels) because of their warmer, dryer climate. Remember warmth is important for the creation of sugars in the grapes, which make for some delicious wines.

Some of Chile's major red varietals also include Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir and to a lesser degree, my favourite, 7Malbec. Chile also produces white varietals - Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.

In scouting the supermarket shelves, I found two brands I really enjoy - Lapostelle Casa and the Vina Miapo Reserve. You may also see the following brands: Aliwen, Frontera, Carte Vieja, Castillo de Molina, Vina Miapo, Undurraga, Santa Rita, and Carmen Grand Reserva, all of which are excellently priced and worth taking a sip.

I am not an expert, merely a wine enthusiast sharing my thoughts and experiences. Feel free to share your own experiences at wineenthusiastja@gmail.com.