Chile Has Arrived

Highly regarded icon wines from Chile were featured in a special panel seminar at the Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience on Friday, October 17, 2014, hosted by the magazine’s Chilean wine reviewer Kim Marcus. The Wine Experience is a celebrated annual weekend-long wine event offering grand tastings, wine dinners and key note seminars which attract consumer wine enthusiasts as well as the industry’s top trade leaders.

In summing up the Icons of Chile seminar, Aurelio Montes noted, “This seminar celebrates the accomplishments of the entire Chilean wine industry and recognizes that Chile has arrived as a producer of world class fine wine.” According to Marybeth Bentwood, Executive Director of Wines of Chile USA, “Chile is the fastest changing wine producing country on the planet. No other country has made equal progress improving wine quality, diversifying their varietals and exploring and expressing a diversity of terroirs. The wines in the ‘Icons of Chile’ panel demonstrate through winemaking, terroir and craftsmanship that Chile is on par with the great wines of the world.”

Presented at the NY Wine Experience were the following wines in the following order:
1.    Vina Montes Folly 2010 Santa Cruz, by Aurelio Montes, Owner and Winemaker.
2.    Concha y Toro Don Melchor 2010 Puente Alto Don Melchor, by Isabel Guilisasti, Owner.
3.    Vina Almaviva 2005, Puente Alto by Michel Friou, Winemaker
4.    Lapostolle Clos 2005, Apalta Cochagua by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, Owner

In addition to the seminar Neyen, O Fournier, and Santa Rita joined the above wineries in presenting a 90+ rated wine at their Critic’s Choice Grand Tastings.

Wines of Chile are an organization committed to promoting the quality and image of Chilean wine throughout the world. It has offices in Santiago, London and New York. Wines of Chile also works closely with ProChile to develop and offer promotional and educational programs in Asia, Latin America and Europe.