- Main white grapes:
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Main red grapes:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Carmenère (often confused with Merlot)
- Lots of French influences including French grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carmenère, and the employing of French winemakers.
- Land in Chile was bought by well respected vineyard owners such as the Rothschilds of Château Lafite-Rothschild, the Torres family of Spain, and the Alexandra Marnier Capostolle of the French liqueur Grand Marnier who have influenced the wines produced here.
- DO (Denominación de Origen): similar to the AVA system of the United States
- Minimum 75 percent of the grapes must be the variety stated on the label
- Minimum 75 percent of the grapes must be from the vintage stated
- Minimum 75 percent of the grapes must be from the region stated
- Most wines will meet EU requirements of 85 percent minimums in all categories so that those wines can be exported to European markets
- “Reserva Especial” and “Gran Reserva” have no legal definition in Chile and mean nothing specific when marked on a label
Chile has 6 main DO regions (from north to south): Atacama, Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Central Valley, South Region, and Austral
- Regions are divided into sub-regions, such as Maipo Valley DO, Rapel Valley DO, or Curico Valley DO of the Central Valley region
- Sub-regions are further divided into zones, such as Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley of Rapel Valley
- Aconcagua and Central Valley are the top regions
- Within Central Valley the important sub-regions are Maipo Valley and Colchagua Valley
- Cabernet Sauvignon is the top grape here
