A Chile reception

Published: 23 July, 2008

The importance of the UK market to Chile's wine industry was reconfirmed at this year's Wines of Chile, attended by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

At the occasion, 150 guests celebrated the success of Chilean wines in the UK, which, as Chilean wine's leading export market, consumed in excess of 136 million bottles last year.

In her speech, President Bachelet announced that Chile's premium quality wines were at their highest ever level of sales in the UK and that over the last five years exports to the country had grown 80%, giving Chile an 8% share of the British wine market.

The President was greeted at the event by Wines of Chile's UK director Michael Cox, who called wine "Chile's finest ambassador."

He also said that Chilean wineries were showing particular "dedication, pragmatism and confidence in these challenging times for exporters."

To help the celebration along, Miguel Torres had sent magnums of his Pinot Noir sparkling wine, which were poured in a toast Chile's UK successes.

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