Chile has a longer winemaking history than you might imagine. Spanish conquistadors brought vines with them in the 16th century. In the mid-19th century French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc were introduced. Then, in the 1980s, a renaissance began with the introduction of stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of oak barrels.
The climate is midway between that of California and France. The most common grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère.
