Map of Chile ’ s wine regions ( courtesy of Wines of Chile )
GETTING TO KNOW CHILE
By Gary Hewitt , Sommelier ( ISG , CMS ), CWE
After God created the World , on the 7th day he was resting . Then an Angel came and told him that they had a problem . There were pieces left over . Tired from the act of creation , God sighed and told the Angel to stick the extra pieces in an out-of-the way place that no one will notice . . . Chile .
– Chilean creation myth
Wines are expressions of national culture and history . Consider Chile . We know Chilean wines today as expressive varietal wines at a good price . But just scratch the surface and ask which grape varieties prevail or why the wines are so cheap , and you reveal a complex , colourful history , and learn about modern Chile in the process .
A LAND BEFORE WINE
• The first peoples in Chile likely arrived by the Bering land bridge from Asia or by sea from Polynesia . A number of cultures developed within Chile ’ s natural boundaries .
• The Mapuche people from the extreme south , including Patagonia , resisted conquest by both the Incans and Spanish . Defeat ultimately came in 1881 at the hands of a massed Chilean army that confiscated the Mapuche ’ s lands and gave them reserves . Territorial issues remain unresolved — sound familiar ?
CONQUISTADORS AND PRIESTS
• Chile ’ s first grape vines arrived with Spanish Conquistadors and priests of the Catholic Church . Sacramental wines helped the mission to convert indigenous peoples and maintain strict religious observance among settlers . The Pais variety came to dominate Chilean vineyards .
• Large agricultural estates growing wheat , barley , and vines became symbols of the wealthy minority who controlled politics and the economy .
INDEPENDENCE AND ECONOMIC EXPANSION
• Revolutions elsewhere in the New World , coupled with Napoleon ’ s victory over the Spanish in Europe , sowed seeds of independence . In 1810 , a military junta comprised of a small group of army officers took power , and by 1818 independence from Spain was achieved .
• Great wealth accumulated and Chile ’ s landowning class developed an appetite for international travel . Fascination
www . banvilleandjones . com 25