World-Class Wines Illustrate Geographic Diversity of Chilean Terroir at New York Seminar

Wines of Chile “Vinos de Terroir” Revealed by Panel of Wine Experts at Industry Event

A select group of high-ranking members of the New York wine industry gathered Monday November 13, at an educational seminar hosted by Wines of Chile to explore a portfolio of remarkable wines representative of Chile’s diverse terroir. The aptly named Vinos de Terroir provided an in-depth perspective of the country’s environmental conditions and the impact of the region’s unique and complex geographic features on Chile’s wine production.

The audience, which included press members, buyers and sommeliers, was introduced to the remarkable wines by soil specialist Pedro Parra at the acclaimed Colicchio and Sons restaurant: the terroir expert discussed Chile’s geographic components, explaining how morphology, geology, geomorphology and soil composition affect the characteristics of each vine. Chilean-born Parra, who holds a PhD from the prestigious Institut Natiónal Agronomique de Paris-Grignon, has conducted more than 20,000 soil-roots observations and knows the terrain of Chile intimately.

Parra was joined by Boston-based Sandy Block, one of the few Americans to hold the distinguished title of Master of Wine. Block led the tasting which featured some of the country’s most prestigious offerings, while Parra provided descriptions of the specific terroirs of each.

Mark Oldman, wine personality and noted author moderated the event, which was the first time a tasting of this kind has been conducted in the U.S. “The Vinos de Terrior event offers us an opportunity, on an international scale, to highlight the diversity and quality of Chilean wines,” says Lori Tieszen, Executive Director of Wines of Chile USA.

“Our winemakers have an intimate relationship with each region’s idiosyncratic climate and terrain and they were able to demonstrate to our esteemed audience that terroir-driven wines are no longer reserved only for Old-World production.”

The wine service was coordinated by Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer and included: Casa Marín Cipreses Vineyard 2011 Sauvignon Blanc; Santa Rita Casa Real 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon; Concha y Toro Don Melchor 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon; Concha y Toro Carmín de Peumo 2008 Carmenere; Altaïr 2007; Errázuriz Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve 2007; Seña 2007; Montes Alpha M 2010; Lapostolle Clos Apalta 2009; and Montes Folly 2009 Syrah.

For more information on the event or on Wines of Chile, please visit our new US trade site, www.WinesOfChileUSA.com, www.WinesOfChile.org or the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages at www.facebook.com/WinesOfChile and www.twitter.com/DrinkChile