Chile Forum

Here is a list of whats best in each price range in the US market today:
Under $10 - santa ema reserva merlot
Under $20 - montes alpha, full line
Unde $30 - santa ema amplus carignan

For a unique experience look for Vina Lagar de Bezana Syrah, currently 93 pts from Robert Parker in Mundo dV.

Maybe we should put together a current wine trends list as i just heard yesterday of some new small boutique vineyards that are coming on line with great product.

According to US Department of Agriculture Assessment of Feb 2011:

"Total domestic wine consumption in Chile is more or less stagnant. Statistics shows that average per capita consumption fell from a high of 52 liters per person in 1982 to only 13 liters in 1994. Since then per capita consumption has been recuperating slowly. Meanwhile, beer consumption has increased substantially exceeding 27 liters per capita during the same time period. Chile has the lowest per capita wine consumption for all major wine producing and exporting country. Chile’s per capita wine consumption compares to 55 liters consumed in France and 40 liters in Argentina.

Trade: Chilean wine exports increased in volume and value during CY2010 when compared to the previous year. Higher prices obtained mainly for bulk and bottled wine explain the higher returns for exports in CY2010. Industry sources indicate that Chile is the tenth largest wine producer and fifth largest exporter in the world. Improvements in quality and a good price/quality relationship help to keep or increase exports levels. Chile traditionally exports both bottled and bulk wine. A large number of wineries are making a big effort to increase premium-bottled wine exports; bottled wine expanded more than bulk wine in CY2010. Currently, there are more than 70 Chilean wineries exporting. Over 60 percent of Chile’s total yearly production is exported, supplying more than 100 countries."

US is largest importer of Chilean wine.
Table - Wine Exports by Country of Destination
Quantity (1000 Liters) Value (Thousand US dollars)
2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010
U.S. 69,890 139,080 169,751 199,788 241,914 275,958
U.K. 96,710 113,420 152,849 223,046 216,364 256,806
China 47,980 55,590 109,952 51,357 54,306 128,228
Germany 47,350 46,310 93,332 65,091 65,752 105,662
Argentina 60 11,210 69,322 180 4,851 32,760
Japan 22,600 27,330 46,005 54,861 64,036 89,605
Denmark 30,070 29,510 41,408 69,829 61,882 77,006
Canada 32,160 38,070 40,920 80,572 77,789 96,304
Netherlands 25,310 27,130 35,872 67,492 72,028 86,106
France 16,890 18,340 29,512 21,984 21,859 35,390
Brazil 18,270 21,860 24,615 52,210 62,572 70,904
Others 184,080 458,260 210,780 497,270 613,177 542,699
TOTAL 591,370 986,110 1,024,007 1,383,946 1,601,530 1,797,428
Source: ODEPA (Ministry of Agriculture).

Thanks to everyone who answered my question about % of Chilean wine production for export. I am shocked to see that the per person consumption of wine in Chile is lower than that in Argentina. I love many of the Carmenere wines in Chile and have been drinking wine just about everyday here because it is very good and the price/quality ratio is terrific. I don't understand why more Chileans don't drink their wines.

isolde100 wrote:Thanks to everyone who answered my question about % of Chilean wine production for export. I am shocked to see that the per person consumption of wine in Chile is lower than that in Argentina. I love many of the Carmenere wines in Chile and have been drinking wine just about everyday here because it is very good and the price/quality ratio is terrific. I don't understand why more Chileans don't drink their wines.

they drink there pisco..... it is really that simple, the reason you do not see many international alcohol brands in chile is because hte pisco market is too strong

isolde100 wrote:Thanks to everyone who answered my question about % of Chilean wine production for export. I am shocked to see that the per person consumption of wine in Chile is lower than that in Argentina. I love many of the Carmenere wines in Chile and have been drinking wine just about everyday here because it is very good and the price/quality ratio is terrific. I don't understand why more Chileans don't drink their wines.

Lots of healthy Chilean wine exported, internal per-capita consumption low

Lots of healthy Chilean seafood exported, internal per-capita consumption low

Lots of healthy Chilean olive oil exported, internal per-capital consumption low*

And so on. Other points to reveal trends relative to prevailing national choices in healthy food products?


* EU per capita consumption of olive oil about 4400 ml/year/per person; Chile about 100 ml/year/ per person. Chilean exports of olive oil about 8000 tonnes/year.

Yes, the olive oil in Chile is very good, much better than many olive oils from Italy, Spain and France. I have been trying different Chilean olive oil brands sold in Lider and Jumbo, and they are all excellent!

patagoniax wrote:

isolde100 wrote:Thanks to everyone who answered my question about % of Chilean wine production for export. I am shocked to see that the per person consumption of wine in Chile is lower than that in Argentina. I love many of the Carmenere wines in Chile and have been drinking wine just about everyday here because it is very good and the price/quality ratio is terrific. I don't understand why more Chileans don't drink their wines.

Lots of healthy Chilean wine exported, internal per-capita consumption low

Lots of healthy Chilean seafood exported, internal per-capita consumption low

Lots of healthy Chilean olive oil exported, internal per-capital consumption low*

And so on. Other points to reveal trends relative to prevailing national choices in healthy food products?


* EU per capita consumption of olive oil about 4400 ml/year/per person; Chile about 100 ml/year/ per person. Chilean exports of olive oil about 8000 tonnes/year.

the chilean olive oil is not because chileans dont like it, its because they cant afford it......... same with seafood, and i bet the seafood statistics are way out as i would say there is probably more illegal consumption of seafood than legal, this is very true in the lamb market, more lamb is consumed illegally than legally all to avoid iva etc!

isolde100 wrote:Thanks to everyone who answered my question about % of Chilean wine production for export. I am shocked to see that the per person consumption of wine in Chile is lower than that in Argentina. I love many of the Carmenere wines in Chile and have been drinking wine just about everyday here because it is very good and the price/quality ratio is terrific. I don't understand why more Chileans don't drink their wines.

It’s a generational thing, it is the same drop as in all the European countries as the war time generation died off. The younger generation (post boomers) will start to raise the number as has started in Europe and North America, but they demand quality for their money, I will remain sceptical about whether or not the export only wine finds its market in Chile. I hope so.