best south american white wine
South American white wines have come a long way in the last 25 years and quality is still on an upward trajectory, says Patricio Tapia, who picks five exciting wines to try. Picture yourself in South America. It is 1990 and you feel like a glass of wine. Back then, the quality of the reds was solid. Most were still fairly rustic, but keen observers could see the potential of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. See also: Five great value Argentina Malbec wines The South American white wines were a different story. This was a time when Semillon, Chenin Blanc and Muscat were the leading varieties. There were some sweet versions, harvested late, that shone, but dry wines resembled pale copies of Sherry: oxidised, without any freshness. If you wanted a crisp, dry, well-made white from any other variety, you’d have to wait a decade for Chile’s first coastal whites to appear, and at least 20 years before winemakers in the heights of Uco Valley could make anything decent from Chardonnay.
Fast-forward 25 years and things have changed radically. Today’s whites, especially in Argentina and Chile, are improved beyond recognition, offering some of the New World’s most terroir-driven drinking experiences. (Editing by Ellie Douglas) South American white wines: Five to try Catena, White Stones Chardonnay, Gualtallary, Uco Valley, Argentina 2012 Rating: 19.25/20pts Since 2009, winemaker Alejandro Vigil has been experimenting with… Aquitania, Sol de Sol Chardonnay, Traiguén, Malleco, Chile 2011 Rating: 19/20pts (96) Malleco, located about 700km south of Santiago, is… De Martino, Viejas Tinajas Muscat, Itata, Bío Bío, Chile 2013 Rating: 19/20pts Dry to the bone, this Muscat from very… Laberinto, Cenizas Sauvignon Blanc, Colbún, Maule, Chile 2014 Rating: 19/20pts The best Chilean Sauvignon Blancs usually come from the coast.… Tabalí, Talinay Sauvignon Blanc, Limarí, Chile 2014 Gentle aromas with hints of nettle, peas and gooseberry;
Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.White wines and summer go together beautifully. There’s nothing like a chilled glass of the stuff on a hot day. By Clare Goggin Sivits You may not be very familiar with many South American white wines but we think some of them are perfect for warm weather days. It seems as though we’re not the only ones to think that either. During our People’s Voice Wine Awards, this category of wines has become pretty popular. The awards program, which has just entered its fifth week, has delivered some interesting results, especially when it comes to our South American whites. Let’s take a look at the current top 5 leaders but keep in mind you still have time to vote for your favorites. Photo courtesy of NoDomain.cc via Flickr/CC 1. Graffigna Centenario Reserve Pinot Grigio San Juan A light yellow wine with a hint of green, this lovely white wine from Argentina’s Tulum Valley smells of jasmine and white fruits and when you taste it, you’ll note those fruit flavors really pop.
But unlike most Argentine Torrontes, this one comes from the La Rioja region where it can grow in a far more moderate climate.
wine for 100 person weddingThis combination results in a drier version than many other wines from this grape. It also has a citrus flavor accented by French oak and a crisp finish. Hailing from Chile’s Central Valley, this straw yellow selection Aromas of citrus fruit and even melon lead into the flavor that also carries citrus fruit, including apricot. It’s a very smooth Chardonnay with a pleasant finish coming from one of the most significant wine producing regions in Chile. You can usually pick up a bottle of this wine for under $10. Pairing Suggestion: Over-Stuffed Chicken with Almonds Another Chardonnay from Chile, this one comes from the country’s Casablanca Valley, a coastal region producing wines that thrive in cooler temperatures, including Chardonnay.
This particular entry starts with a complex and aromatic nose and the flavor is characterized by tropical fruits. On average, the wine sells for around $11. Pairing Suggestion: Saffron-Scented Couscous with Pine Nuts 5. Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc Reserva Another wine out of Chile’s Central Valley, this one is produced in an area called Curico Valley. The Sauvignon Blanc Reserva is a pale yellow color and displays aromas of tropical fruit, including guava and tangerine. On the tongue, most drinkers note mineral flavors along with the expected flavors of fruit. On average, liquor stores price this wine at around $12. Pairing Suggestion: Broiled Miso-Marinated Halibut Do you think we’re missing one of your favorites? and vote or nominate the one you think is the best!I have just spent a week drinking nothing but South American wines. Well, OK, apart from the occasional coffee and the more than occasional beer. Prompted by the recent Argentinian and Chilean trade tastings held in London, I decided on a little experiment: to see how I'd get on drinking no wines other than theirs.
For fun, I included whatever I could find from Brazil and Uruguay, countries increasingly adept at winemaking. Argentina and Chile are on a roll. Although still comparatively modest at 27 million bottles, Argentina's exports to Britain are at record levels and the country is enjoying 27 months of consecutive growth. As for Chile, for the first time ever, British consumers are knocking back more of its wine than they are Spanish, overtaking the US as Chile's biggest export market as they do so. I enjoyed all manner of delights and not once craved another country's wine. Argentina has made malbec its own in the way Chile is championing carmenère and I found tasty, well-priced examples of both. But classic varieties such as cabernet, merlot, syrah, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and viognier also shine, at extremely competitive prices. I had some pretty good sparklers (the best of which was Brazilian, amazingly enough), excellent pinot noirs (there's nowhere better than Chile for pinotphiles on a budget), bizarre blends (carmenère and sauvignon blanc anyone?) as well as luscious sweet wines and an amazing fortified malbec from Familia Zuccardi.
And so, after exhaustive and selfless research, here are my current South American top 10. With the exception of a delightful sparkler, all are under a tenner. 2008 Tesco Finest* Argentinian Malbec 13.5%vol, Argentina (£6.99; Tesco) Despite clinging on in Cahors in south-west France, malbec has now made Argentina – specifically, high-altitude Mendoza – its home. The climate and soil suit it perfectly here and wines of great style, typified by subtle aromas of violets, are now being made. This example, made by the leading winery, Catena, is full and fruity, with plenty of robust blackberry and blueberry flavours. Perfect with a rare slab of steak. 2008 Cousiño-Macul Sauvignon Gris 14%vol, Chile (£7.99; Waitrose, Corks Out 01925 267700, Luvians 01334 477752) Once popular in the Graves area of Bordeaux, sauvignon gris has long since fallen out of favour there. The Cousiño-Macul family, winemakers since 1856, took cuttings to Chile where they now make scrumptious examples such as this.
With grapefruit, mango and creamy white peach on the palate and a touch of gingery spice, it's delicious with baked cod and petit pois. 2006 Miolo Brut Millésime 12.5%vol, Brazil (£13.25, Bottle Apostle 020 8985 1549, Handford Wines 020 7589 6113, Wine Circle 01344 843562) The Miolo family, Italian émigrés, first planted grapes in Vale dos Vinhedos in southern Brazil over a century ago. This half-and-half blend of chardonnay and pinot noir made in the champagne method is more than a curiosity, it's an absolute belter – crisp, dry, citrus and toasty with a long, lingering finish. Bamboozle your friends and enjoy it as you would any fine sparkler. 2006 Bodega Bouza Tannat 14.5%vol, Uruguay (£9.99; Bowes Wines 01380 827291) Introduced to Uruguay by Basque immigrants in the 19th century, tannat is yet another French variety (in this case from Madiran in south-west France) enjoying a renaissance in South America. With buckets of black brambly fruit, liquorice and cocoa, it is tannic yet fresh, and ideal for bold meat dishes.
And, according to Dr Roger Corder's Wine Diet, Uruguayan tannat is one of the best of all wines for one's health. 2008 Kaiken Malbec Rosé 13.5%vol, Argentina (£8.99; Hedley Wright Wine 01279 465818, Taurus Wines, 01483 548484) Kaiken was set up in 2001 by a Chilean, Aurelio Montes, and is designed along the feng-shui principles he used for his Apalta winery back home. As in Chile (and doubtless in his newest winery in California's Napa Valley), Montes believes in playing Gregorian chants to barrels of maturing wine. Eccentric or not, he makes terrific wines like this rosé, which is full of juicily sweet fruit backed by a crisp dry finish. Drink it with smoked trout and beetroot salad. 2008 Finca Las Moras Bonarda 13%vol, Argentina (£4.99; Co-operative) From the winner of the International Wine and Spirit Competition's 2008 Argentinian producer of the year, a great value red for knocking back as the nights draw in. Bonarda might not have the panache of malbec, but it's as Argentinian a grape as you'll find.
Intense in colour, it has rich blackberry fruit and vanilla spice. Try it with home-baked lasagne or spaghetti and meatballs. 2007 Errázuriz Single Vineyard Gewürztraminer 14.5%vol, Chile (£6.66 each if you buy 3; Threshers, Wine Rack) Errázuriz is one of Chile's best-known producers and with reason: they make excellent, well-priced wines as well as the sumptuous Seña made in cahoots with California legend Mondavi –one of the country's few icon wines. This Chilean take on gewurz is crisp and spicy with a long finish. Try it with Thai food. 2007 Casillero del Diablo Carmenère Reserva 14.5%vol, Chile (£6.99 as part of a mixed half dozen; Majestic) Carmenère was abandoned by the Bordelais in the 1860s, only to be given a new lease of life by the Chileans. It thrives in the warmer climate of Chile and this is an excellent example from ungrafted, pre-phylloxera stock, aged for eight months in American oak. It is lusciously plummy and spicy, deeply concentrated and finely structured.
Drink it with sticky spare ribs. 2009 Terra Andina Rosé Carmenère 13%vol, Chile (£4.39 as part of a mixed dozen, otherwise £5.49; Oddbins) From Chile's Central Valley and the Santa Rita and Viña Carmen stable (founded in 1880), a gloriously drinkable rosé. Ninety per cent robust and flavoursome carmenère is blended with 10 per cent muscat, of all things, to produce a wonderfully soft, smooth, bubblegum-pink wine with sweet fruit in the mouth and a refreshingly dry finish. Best served well-chilled on its own or with simple picnic lunches. 2008 Fairtrade Tilimuqui Single Vineyard Torrontés 12.5%vol, Argentina (£6.29; Waitrose) La Riojana co-operative, based in the high-altitude, low rainfall, alluvial soil-rich Famatina Valley in north-west Argentina, is the world's largest producer of certified organic/Fairtrade wines. Here, with the country's most idiosyncratic grape – torrontés – they've fashioned a delightfully crisp, dry and aromatic white not unlike a subtle gewurztraminer.