Chilean grape varieties
July 25th, 2008 Posted in ChileThe most commonly grown grape varities in Chile include Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Carmenere, and Moscatel. Sauvignon in this case is not Sauvignon Blanc, but a distant relative, possibly Sauvignon Vert. Some grape varieties in Chile have been confused with more common international ones, and genetic testing has recently revealed the inaccuracies. Carmenere, for example, looks a lot like Merlot and had many people fooled for a long time. Carmenere was a grape grown in France that has almost entirely fallen out of favor there, but some think it may have found it’s ideal growing area in Chile.
The most widely grown grape in Chile is Cabernet Sauvignon, with 16,000 hectares under vine. Additional grapes include Semillon, Torontel, and even Pinot Noir has begun to find some homes there.
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