A 3-Day Road Trip Through Chile's Wine Country
It took just three days of drinking my way across Chile's majestic Andes Mountains and foggy coastal plains to fall for the ingenuity and verve of the country's winemakers. Nowhere do traditional techniques—Chile has been producing wine since the 16th century—take place at such a dynamic crossroads of ocean, mountain, desert, and glacier. While the Finger Lakes, in New York, and Sonoma, Northern California's alt-Napa, get more attention as the emerging wine-world capitals, discerning drinkers worship Chile. Not only for its Merlots, Cabernets, and even Chardonnays that stand up to the best California has to offer, but also because of its widespread commitment to sustainability. A majority of its winemakers have adopted an ambitious code, with standards around planting vineyards, energy consumption, and labor safety, in the hopes that by 2025 Chile will be the world's largest producer of sustainable wines.
Prior to this trip my exposure to Chilean wine had been limited to budget-friendly options—decent Cabernets like Gato Negro. To dig into the terroir and see the pioneering practices firsthand, I needed to drive through the land. So I headed down to Chile with three fellow oenophiles for a wine adventure to take in the spectacular natural beauty, the rich culinary tradition, and the charming country villas.
This article appeared in the May/June 2020 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.