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.
One of the reasons that wine has thrived in Chile is the climate, which has been described as similar to that of California and France. Currently, vineyards thrive along an 800-mile stretch of land that runs from the Atacama Region to the southern Bio-Bio region. The water used to irrigate the vineyards typically comes from Andean snowmelt. The temperatures in the wine regions are very temperate and considered to be Mediterranean. If you are attending Spanish school in Santiago, the vineyards you can visit in that region include Santa Rita, Concha y Toro and Undurraga.
The fact that Chile has natural boundaries like the Pacific Ocean, the Andes Mountains, and the Desert is believed to be the reason that it is protected from phylloxera infestations. Some people believe that this allows the wine to be purer in flavor. In any case, there is no doubt that freedom from these pests allows the wine industry to be more profitable. The costly process of grafting to rootstocks is not necessary in Chile.
Chilean wine is currently quite popular in America, as well as in the UK and Japan. There are currently over 20 grape varieties growing in Chile. If you expose yourself to the country’s wine when you attend Spanish classes in Chile, you will be intimately familiar with it by the time you return home. You will be able to impress your friends and family with your wine knowledge and expertise.
Check out your local wine vendors for Chilean wine, and think of us here in Santiago and Viña del Mar!