Come join our students in learning about wine tasting!
If you are going to Spanish school in Santiago, you probably want to limit the amount of alcohol you drink during your trip so that you can remain alert during your classes. However, with that word of caution aside, it is imperative that you sample the world-renowned local wines when you are not studying for your Spanish classes in Chile. Currently, there are over 70 wineries in the country. Chile is one of the top world exporters and producers of wine.
Wine has long been important to the country. When the conquistadors colonized the area in the 1500s, they brought vines with them for producing wine. Jesuit priests continued to cultivate the vineyards, as they needed the wine for their ceremonies. However, there was a major setback to the area’s wine industry in the 1600s. Wine made in Chile and Peru was banned in Spain, and colonial law forced Chileans to buy most of their wines from Spain. Therefore Chilean grapes ended up making Pisco, and wine production suffered.
In the 1800s, wine varieties from France like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were introduced to Chile. Sweet wines made from the Pais and Muscatel grapes became very popular. Ultimately, the country of France influenced Chilean winemaking more than Spain did. Wealthy Chileans traveled to France, imported French vines for their property, and produced their own wine. During this time, the French were battling a phylloxera insect infestation, and their vineyards were in ruin. Winemakers from France often traveled to Chile to make their wine. Of course, this trend benefited the Chileans as they learned a great deal from the French.