Chilean champions announced

The winners from Wines of Chile’s inaugural independents promotion have been revealed, all of whom provided evidence of having put Chile in the spotlight during September in order to celebrate the country’s bicentenary.

Meanwhile, one industry figurehead has announced Chile as being among the best sources of red blended wines in the world.

The Wines of Chile marketing initiative has generated seven regional winners from across the UK and Northern Ireland: Amps Fine Wines, Oundle; Cornhill Wines, Illminster; James Nicholson Wine Merchant, Crossgar; The Jolly Vintner, Tiverton; Rodney Densem Wines, Nantwich; Taurus Wines, Bramley and The Wright Wine Co, Skipton.

The entrants, each of which have won £500 as well as a trip to Chile next year, supplied a detailed report and photographs of the activities and displays in order to secure the prize.

In the same week as the awarded merchants were revealed, an independent merchant in Hampshire has hailed Chile as one of the best places to get a decent red blend. Simon Taylor of Stone, Vine & Sun said that Chile is “most definitely the place to go for a red blend”.

Taylor added that Chile now has a different approach to red blends compared to a few years ago. He added: “One of things I noticed the first time I went to Chile a few years ago was that the ranges ran – cheap tier; unoaked single varietals; oaked varietals, and then three to four super-oaked varietals and then at the very, very top would be an icon wine… and that was blended.

“So I asked if it can be done for icon wines, why not for the lower end of the price spectrum?” highlighting the addition to his portfolio of a Cabernet/Carmenère blend supplied by Luis Felipe Edwards at the tasting.

Jane Parkinson, 08.11.10