Frontera Chardonnay secures Gold in blind-tasting competition
Offering a taste of Chilean winemaking at an attractive price point, Frontera Chardonnay has become a global ambassador.
A good glass of wine can be tough to find for less than £15, let alone a full bottle. The struggle is compounded when it is Chardonnay, a grape whose reputation for fine wine can too easily inflate its prices.
Yet, at db’s inaugural Global Under £15 Masters, Concha y Toro proved that the grape can still offer exemplary quality at an affordable price point. Its Frontera Chardonnay secured a Gold medal in the competition from the expert panel led by Masters of Wine.
Its quality is, in many ways, a reflection of the best of Chile, because it is determined by the two key influences on Chilean winemaking: the Andes and the Pacific.
Forming Chile’s eastern border with Argentina, the Andes mountains mean that Chile has an isolated, unique climate. They divide weather systems on the continent, meaning that (in Chile’s winegrowing latitudes) rain and snow stays on the Chilean side. This is vital for water supply and has formed the river valleys that offer viticulturalists such a wealth of terroirs. The mountains also supply cool air to the vineyards, which flows down the vertiginous slopes.
The Pacific, meanwhile, pulls up cool air from the Antarctic and funnels it through the network of valleys as fresh coastal breezes.
These two cooling influences mean that Frontera Chardonnay has an elegant, fresh profile. Yet it also enjoys abundant sunshine that, combined with rich, complex soils, provides an abundance of ripe, concentrated fruit flavours.
A popular choice
Frontera Chardonnay has proven that the combination of freshness and flavour is certainly a popular one. Indeed, the Frontera range has shown that there is a strong appetite for Chilean wines when they make the most of the country’s unique wine region.
Frontera embodies a very modern wine drinking philosophy. Thanks to the wines’ balance of freshness and strength, they are highly adaptable. Particularly given the great value they offer, the wines are ideal for sharing with loved ones and celebrating special occasions, whether that is a casual catch-up or a meticulously planned meal.
In the US, Frontera is the number one Chilean wine brand, embracing its status as ambassador for the country’s winemakers through the likes of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and many more varieties.
It has even achieved recognition at the top of the entertainment industry. Frontera was the official wine partner of the Grammy Awards between 2022 and 2026.
Although db’s team of Masters of Wine may not quite have the name recognition of Bad Bunny or Beyoncé, they are adding to the chorus of recognition. In the blind tasting, they selected it as one of the top performers in the day’s flights.
Below, Jonathan Pedley MW offers his take on Frontera Chardonnay.
Frontera Chardonnay NV
- Producer: Viña Concha y Toro
- Region: Central Valley
- Country: Chile
- Grape varieties: 85% Chardonnay, 15% other white varieties
- ABV: 12%
- Residual sugar: 6.44g/l
- Approx. retail price: £10
Mid-golden in colour, the wine is clean, fresh and youthful on the nose with hints of cream, butter, vanilla, and ripe yellow fruits. The palate is dry and fullish-bodied with mid acidity. Like the nose, the palate is opulent and expressive, with a medium length finish.
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