South America report: Importers’ Shout

Jo Gilbert quizzes UK importers on the burning questions surrounding Chile and Argentina.

Santa Rita Estates bolsters European team

Santa Rita Estates (SRE) has announced the appointment of two new members to its European team: Lucy Ward joins as the head of off-trade sales GB, while Maria Ines Pina assumes the role of export manager for continental Europe.

VSPT bolsters UK subsidiary with new role

South American company VSPT Wine Group has announced an appointment to the brand-new role of sales manager as the business looks to grow its UK subsidiary.

Producer Q&A: Noelia Orts, Emiliana, Chile

Emiliana, the world’s largest organic winery, has sustainability woven into its soul, with wines to match the winemaker’s passion. Andrew Catchpole dropped by.

Five minutes with Guillermo Calderón, Casas del Bosque

Andrew Catchpole catches up with Guillermo Calderón, Casas del Bosque’s sales director and a Casablanca Sauvignon and Pinot specialist, to discuss the trends shaping Chile.

Indigo unveils Chile fundraising campaign

Indigo Wine has pledged to donate £1 for each bottle sold from their portfolio of Chilean wines, raising funds for producers affected by natural disasters in Itata and Maule.

Producer Q&A: Félix Solís Avantis

UK MD Richard Cochrane and President Félix Solís, the two leaders of the major wine company, fill Andrew Catchpole in on the latest innovative developments.

Co-op lets customers do the talking

James Bayley reports back from the Co-op’s latest tasting and hears what’s up the multiple retailer’s sleeve for the future of its wine range.

Colchagua a ‘microcosm’ of Chile’s diverse future

Once dubbed the ‘Hollywood of Chile” by regional expert Amanda Barnes, Colchagua Valley is on track to lead the next generation of rising stars by dint of its focus on artisanal diversity.

Concha y Toro signs Harpers Sustainability Charter

Chile's leading wine brand has become a signatory to the Harpers Sustainability Charter, an initiative designed to galvanise the trade into action.

Uruguayan specialist Vinos Latinos spreads wings over Andes

The UK’s Uruguayan specialist importer Vinos Latinos is set to embark on a “new phase for the business” having secured significant investment for growth.

How the on-trade is advancing Chile and Argentina up the wine list

With its menu populated by Central and South American delicacies, Paladar aptly defines itself as “the taste of Latin America in the heart of London SE1”. To match its geographical scope, the restaurant’s wine list consists of labels from Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, and Mexico. Chile and Argentina feature too, of course – South America-themed restaurants serve as their natural home. Elsewhere however, the continent’s two leading wine-producing countries tend to be relegated to the cheaper end of the wine list.

Can Chile hot up?

The talk among Chile’s firmament of terroir-focused wineries is of site selection, with many smaller brands promoting sub-zones and regionality, emphasising the superior quality of cool-climate vineyards such as Lo Abarca in San Antonio or Los Morros in Maipo. Proponents of this approach have long argued that terroir creates added value, encouraging consumers to leap into premium styles.

Concha y Toro goes after greater share of the UK’s most valuable variety

Casillero del Diablo, Concha y Toro’s (CyT) flagship brand, is looking to nab a greater share of the Sauvignon Blanc pie with the launch of a premium coastal wine from Colchagua’s Ucuquer vineyard.

Talking heads; Malbec and beyond

Buyers and critics alike share a snapshot of what currently excites them about South America with Sonya Hook.

Andean offer

Both as wine producers and countries, Argentina and Chile offer very different profiles. The former has its hugely successful hero variety in Malbec, while the latter, having driven its reputation on affordable and accessible international varieties, is gaining ground as a producer of genuine interest and value in the mid-price range. Argentina too, with Malbec having secured a strong foothold at a more premium ‘entry’ price level, has been pushing its diversity, while climbing its flagship variety higher up the price ladder in independents and the on-trade.

Santa Rita Estates predicts record production in Molina, Pumanque, and Cauquenes in mid-harvest report

Santa Rita Estates (SRE) has published its mid-harvest report, and it’s good news for Chile, along with Santa Rita and Carmen.

Santa Rita Estates achieves sustainability recertification

Viña Santa Rita and its associated wineries in Chile have obtained their sixth accreditation from the Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile Code, under the rules of the oversight body.

Chile tasting postponed as other physical January trade events hang in the balance

Wines of Chile has postponed its 13 January showcase tasting in London, with several other organisers of tastings this month also understood to be considering whether to still go ahead.

Chile's old vine renaissance