30 Chileans under £25

‘Frustrating doesn’t begin to cover it,’ I write in this recommendations piece for Decanter, picking 30 Chilean wines under £25.

On paper, this should be a straightforward piece. Chile is making heaps of fabulous wines at this price, as I know from my regular trips out there. 

The problem is there’s currently a major disconnect between what’s happening on the ground in Chile and what’s available on our shop shelves and wine lists in the UK.

You see the same old names and styles all the time, especially in the big retailers and outlets. It’s hard to track down those quirky, intriguing, rewarding bottles. Contrast South Africa or Argentina and the problem is clear.

The best tactic is to look to the independent merchants and hope they lead the way in setting the example for stocking and making a success of Chilean wines that go beyond the staples of cheap Sauvignon Blanc plus Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with a smattering of Carmenere.

It will happen, because the quality and diversity of Chilean wine has never been better and this momentum will spill over into the UK mainstream at some stage (partly because prices tend to remain reasonable). 

In the meantime, my picks here include delicious wines from the likes of Matetic, Ventisquero, Viña Leyda, Lapostolle, Laberinto, Aresti, Maycas, Veramonte, Aquitania, Morandé, Casa Silva, De Martino, Errázuriz, Indómita, Caliterra, Cono Sur, Undurraga, Bouchon, Casa Marin and San Esteban. 

[Top 30 Chilean Wines Under £25 appeared in Decanter magazine’s June 2019 edition]

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