Estampa Estate Viognier/Chardonnay 2009 (Chile)

This wine is 85% Viognier and 15% Chardonnay from the Colchagua Valley in Chinle.

In the glass this wine is pale yellow with aromas of grapefruit, flowers and peach with a touch of citrus and minerals. Pretty good acidity on the palate with peach, citrus and a touch of apple on the end. Citrus and floral on the finish.

Wine making was first introduced to Chile by Spanish settlers in the 1500’s, but it wasn’t until the 1980’s that much of the world had their first sips of Chilean wine. Chile has experience remarkable growth. In 1984, Chile’s total wine exports amounted to 2%, less than 30 years later they’re currently exporting 70% of their wines, making Chile responsible for roughly 8% of the world’s wine.

Chile remains one of the few wine-producing regions that has not been devastated by phylloxera, the louse the destroyed much of the world’s vineyards in the 1800’s. Because of this, Chile has several vineyards that date back to upwards of 150 years. These old vines, mostly of Carignan and Mourvedre, produce concentrated, intriguing wines that are highly sought after.