{"id":11885,"date":"2021-09-06T04:04:39","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T08:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wine365.com\/?p=11885"},"modified":"2021-09-28T12:32:33","modified_gmt":"2021-09-28T16:32:33","slug":"chilean-white-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wine365.com\/stage\/chilean-white-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Best White Wines from Chile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chile is known for its red wines, but a combination of geography, terroir, and altitude help make it a stand-out country for whites, as well. Read on to discover more about Chilean white wine and what to be on the lookout for.<\/em><\/p>\n

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One of the biggest problems in the New World is that sometimes producers plant white grapes in appellations that are too hot for them, so they end up getting overripe fruit and sometimes “flabby” wine. This is not the case of Chile, which was blessed with a combination of maritime and alpine influences<\/strong> that made it possible for them to produce fantastic whites in several of their appellations.<\/p>\n

To make white wines with elegance and finesse, we need plenty of sun and dry weather paired with cool to moderate temperatures. This allows grapes to develop their fruit flavors slowly while keeping their refreshing acidity.<\/p>\n

Chilean Geography: Long, Narrow, with Lots of Ocean Breezes<\/h2>\n

Chile is a very narrow, long country<\/strong> that extends for 2600 miles, lined with coastal regions north to south. These coastal regions are influenced by the cooling Pacific Humboldt current<\/strong>, which provides breezes, fogs, and even salty\/iodine notes. This similar phenomenon happens also in California, especially in the appellations closer to San Pablo\u2019s Bay.<\/p>\n

Besides the cool Pacific Ocean influence, Chile has an alpine influence<\/strong>, with temperatures decreasing as we ascend the mountains. There are two important mountain systems: one is the Entre Cordilleras<\/strong> or Coastal Range (this mountain system is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes), and the other is the Andes<\/strong> themselves, where altitudes may reach up to 13,000 feet.\u00a0 Finally, white wine is also produced in southern Chile, which is naturally cooler.<\/p>\n

\"Humboldt<\/p>\n

What to Expect from Chilean White Wines<\/h2>\n

Wine drinkers usually know Chile for its red wines, but 36% of their production is white<\/strong>. The most important Chilean white wine varieties are:<\/p>\n