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Importers of Fine Wines Since 1919 | Resources for the Trade |
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The Dark Days of Devastation and IsolationIn 1939, Chile suffered a devastating earthquake which leveled domiciles and wineries alike. With a world at war and global economies in turmoil, cooperative wineries were rebuilt-wineries that were shared by many producers vinting, in most cases, a collective wine-the fruit of everyone's labors. Then, after WWII, Chile tried to jumpstart its economy by limiting foreign imports. As a result, wineries were forced to use obsolete machinery and a native Chilean wood (raule) for its wine casks. Unfortunately, raule was porous. Leaks were plugged by rubbing the casks with beeswax, but this did not prevent the wine from oxidizing. The wines made during this time period were less than stellar. On the mend…Life improved in Chile—and so did the wines.
Banfi Vintners, Italian wine producer and US importer, began importing Concha Y Toro in 1988. Baroness Philippine de Rothschild (Mouton) established a collaborative wine partnership with Concha Y Toro in 1996 to create Almaviva, a prestige bottling. Miguel Torres, Spanish producer; Les Domains Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), Bordeaux producer; the Marnier family of France, makers of Grand Marnier; William Fèvre, Chablis producer; Bruno Prats, formerly of Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux and Paul Pontallier of Ch. Margaux; the Massenez family, distillers of fruit brandies in Alsace; Robert Mondavi, Napa Valley producer; Jess Jackson of Kendall-Jackson Winery and Agustin Huneeus of Franciscan Winery are just a few of the many that saw great promise in this slender slip of a country. Everybody wants a piece of the Chile pie.
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Chile's food culture is strongly oriented toward the sea. Razor clams, prawns, oysters, mussels, squid, octopus, king crab, sea urchins, sole, conger eel, hake, swordfish, and sea bass are staples. Dinner is not served until after 8:30 p.m. in Chile. In order to stave off hunger pains, cookies, cakes, sandwiches and coffee or tea are served between 5-7 p.m. in a tradition that is (ironically) called once meaning eleven.
Why is Chiles small evening snack called eleven when it takes place between 5 and 7 p.m.? Tradition has it, that the man of the house would head off to the local tavern for a glass of aguardiente (a distilled spirit) at this time of the evening. Aguardiente has eleven letters, hence once or eleven.
Until 1970, only 8-10% of the worlds wine production was internationally marketed, and 80% of that trade took place between European countriesAt that time, Chile exported no more than 1% of its total production. The amount increased to just 5% in the 1980's today Chile exports more than 60% of its production... - Rodrigo Alverado, author Chilean Wine: The Heritage Most Chilean wine was sold domestically in 15-liter, 10-liter, or 5-liter containers. One-liter bottles first appeared in 1964, test-marketed by Concha Y Toro and Santa Teresa wineries. 
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An extraordinary number of foreign investors put down roots and established wineries in Chile in the 1970s and 1980s. With new capital, new know-how, new equipment and new casks, the Chilean wine industry entered into a golden age of growth and prosperity.
