15 great wines to offer, to keep or simply to taste

Launched a few months ago, this Muscat is a white like those before, when this grape variety was precisely one of those that predominated on the national market. With a bright yellow color and sweet citrus notes, it is ideal to accompany seafood. My suggestions? Sea urchins with green sauce or grilled sea bass. Slightly frozen, it does not get lost.

Another novelty when it comes to whites is this chardonnay from Valle del Malleco, with a vinification quite different from what has been seen with this variety over the past two decades. Of course, the results are also different: we are talking here about a wine that is more citric than floral, with a rich acidity on the palate and none of that fruity “jam” that has been found for years in many Chilean Chardonnays. What is it good with? Oysters and toast with butter, in complete safety.

Thinking of the reds that everyone loves, here is one with a special touch and which for the same reason works great as a gift or to enjoy at home on a special occasion. It is a Syrah from the Elqui Valley that has a very special aroma, slightly smoky and with lots of black olives. On the palate, it is a persistent but soft and slightly spicy wine. Like a good Syrah, it calls for lamb meat. Lamb and artichoke stew? It will be perfect.

A wine to offer or to treat yourself to is this Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo Alto (or Andes), a red that does honor to the well-structured wines of this region so renowned in national wine production. In this case, it is a wine with complex aromas, which combines black fruits with some acid reflections. In the mouth it is soft, with a little sweetness which makes it very pleasant to drink. It is nevertheless a powerful and full-bodied wine, which will be appreciated very well with a Beef bourguignon, to pay tribute to the Pérez Rojas family, whose vineyard is at the origin of this project. However, the producers themselves recommend keeping this wine, and thus be able to enjoy it fully and in optimal conditions in another twenty years. You decide.

Very recently, this rather particular blend of red grape varieties has arrived on the market, as its composition consists of 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 12% Tempranillo and 8% of the very rare Touriga Nacional. The result? A fresh wine on the palate but at the same time with some aromatic notes of black fruits and a persistent flavor. It will go very well with a potato cake, but it is also recommended to give it a few years of cellaring. How many? A decade, let’s see what happens.

A very fresh red wine (58% Carménère, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc), with aromas of red fruits and some vanilla notes. It is recommended to serve around 18 degrees and would be ideal to accompany certain soft cheeses, such as a good brie or a camembert.

A great wine, one of the best you can drink in Chile these days, and not just when it comes to the Garnacha variety. This Cuesta Chica is a wine made with grapes from Alcohuaz, in the Elqui Valley, at over 2,100 meters above sea level. This results in a lively red wine, with sweet fruity aromas and a truly exquisite acidity on the palate. To be enjoyed on its own or also, for example, with a good grilled pork chop

Make no mistake: this is not another wine from the Toro de Piedra lineage that many have known for years and that the public loves so much, especially roasting enthusiasts. This pinot noir corresponds to its new range prime called the Diamante Collection, of which the 2018 version is particularly a gem. Slightly clear and with aromas of red fruits, in the mouth it has a very rich acidity, which makes it perfect to accompany dishes with meat and cheese. For example, a strong kayser schnitzel. Alone and as an aperitif, it also works perfectly.

Wine in little demand on the national market but it is very versatile. It is a fresh Torontel, with notes of peaches and apricots but with an acidity in the mouth that makes it persistent and very pleasant. Ideal as an aperitif but also for all oily fish. A grilled horse mackerel? Perfect. Now why is he called Naranjo? It is its color and it is obtained because the grapes remain for nine months in contact with their own skins, which gives it a variety of aromas and of course its characteristic orange tone.

Do you have ceviche or sushi for lunch and want a nice, cheap white? In this case, the best option is the Gewürstraminer strain, which is hard to pronounce — even more so after a few drinks — but very easy to drink. It has somewhat floral aromas and a flavor that can sometimes seem a bit sweet. Nothing else? Yes, it works great with desserts.

this way another best value, as the sophisticates now say. Ideal to accompany roast beef or pork, this Cabernet Sauvignon has a sweet aroma of ripe red fruits and is also subtle on the palate, although slightly spicy. That is to say a wine that asks to be near a grill

Another red that brings them. In this case, a Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon, very classic on the nose, with notes of red fruits and even a little tobacco. Bright red, in the mouth it is round and unctuous. It is also ideal for grilled meats, although to get the most out of it, it is recommended to store it for one or two years.

Another Garnacha, but this time at a cheaper price. Strictly speaking, this example from Pérez Cruz is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Mourverde. The result? An aromatic and sweet wine, ideal to drink on its own, at any time of the day. A little gem.

A wine that blends carignan with our traditional País grape, which has long been one of the most popular of its kind and well known for its one liter bottle. A very fresh and juicy wine, practically grape juice that goes very well with roasts, appetizers and even a full afternoon of conversation with friends.

It is a 100% cinsault red wine from the Itata Valley, Ñuble region, and part of the Miguel Torres Heroes of Wine project, where the vineyard has partnered since 2019 with small farmers who produce these wines for decades. In the case of this Tenaz —which comes from the city of Huaro— we have a fresh wine full of fruit, so pleasant on the palate that it is worth having more than one bottle on hand. In addition, it is ideal for a mixed paella.

*Prices for products in this item are current as of June 7, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.