For many, fine wine might not exist outside of countries like France, Italy and Spain. There is, however, a whole world of fermented grape juice waiting to be explored, with the long, narrow country of Chile being one of the most important players in the game.
Keeping that in mind, Wines of Chile and the Trade Commission of Chile are hosting the Drink Chile Fine Wine Festival — an annual celebration of Chilean wine, food and culture. The event will take place from 6:30 pm on Tuesday at Arcadian Loft.
Attendees will get a chance to taste 150 premium wines from Chile's diverse terroir — environmental factors affecting a crop's phenotype — and meet the passionate and knowledgeable winemakers behind the libations as well as experts from the participating wineries. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Also featured will be a curated selection of some of Chile's highest-quality small-batch wines and vineyards in the Pequeños Gallery.
Chile has an extensive wine history for a New World wine region — regions outside of the traditional wine-growing countries — courtesy of the Spanish conquistadors who brought common grape vines with them as they colonized the region in the 16th century. Since the 1980s, Chile's wine industry has seen a renaissance with the introduction of modern fermentation and aging methods, causing an increase in the quality as well as quantity of production.
Now the fifth-largest exporter of wines in the world and the seventh-largest producer, Chile is climatically dominated by the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country's vineyards are found along an 800-mile stretch of land from the Atacama Region to the Bio-Bio Region in the south. At the festival, patrons will get a chance to taste the diversity of Chilean wines from the Costa, Entre Cordillera and Andes regions.
The country's climate can be described as something in-between that of California and France, due to which the most common grapes found are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenere.
Outside of wine, the event will also feature live music, courtesy of the Latin sounds produced by Jus Solo Trio. There will also be delectable food served inspired by Latin American flavours, prepared by Arcadian Loft's acclaimed culinary team.
The Drink Chile Fine Wine Festival will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at Arcadian Lofts located at 401 Bay St. Tickets are available to be purchased here.
