Wines of the World Series: Spotlight on Chile
September marks Chilean Wine Month and we’re excited to continue the 🌍🍷 “Wines of the World Series” with a spotlight on this diverse and significant wine-producing country. Over the coming weeks, we’ll share resources from Wines of Chile, who have generously agreed to share their content with the Berlin Wine School Community.
📖 Chile key facts:
Chile is the 4th largest exporter of wine worldwide; wine represents 18.8 % of agricultural exports.*
The winegrowing regions span from the dry north, through the hilly Central Valley, and fertile soils in the south.
There are around 800 active wineries, 92% of which are located outside the Metropolitan Area of Santiago.*
Wine regions are shaped by geography rather than latitude, and based on the distance from the Pacific Ocean, classified into 3 categories: Costas (cooler coastal regions impacted by ocean winds and fog), Entre Cordilleras (warm inland valleys), and Los Andes (exposed mountainous areas of the western Andes).
Both international and local varieties are grown.
The most planted international varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, and other varieties are also grown.
The local varieties to remember are Carmenère (Chile’s unique grape) and País (also grown in other countries under different names/clones).
Thanks to its climate and natural geographic barriers, Chile has never been affected by phylloxera. These factors also support sustainable viticulture, which is widespread throughout the country.
Chile’s old vines are being rediscovered and gaining an international reputation.
*As of 2025 and the Wines of Chile website.
🔎Did you know?
Carmenère has a unique history in Chile – it has long been mistaken for Merlot and only correctly identified in the late 1990s through detailed analysis.
The top export markets for Chilean wine are: the United States, Brazil, and China.*
Wine significantly contributes to the Chilean economy, representing 0.5% of the gross domestic product and employing more than 100,000 people.*
The 3 geographical zones (Costas, Entre Cordilleras, and Andes) can be used as complementary labelling terms.
September 4th is celebrated as Chilean Wine Day.
*As of 2025 and the Wines of Chile website.
🎓Want to learn more?
Watch this video overview of the wines of Chile.
Watch this bite-sized WSET video about Carmenère
💬Share your experience
Have you ever tried Chilean Carmenère? How would you describe it? Do you know a place in Berlin to taste Chilean wines (we’re looking for a venue for the next community meetup!)? Have you ever visited any of Chile’s wine regions? Share your insights!
➡️ Coming up: In the next weeks, we’ll be introducing some of Chile’s wine regions, starting with those known for premium white wines. Stay tuned!
All data, images, and other resources courtesy of the Wines of Chile.