FOUR CHILEAN WINERIES HELD INNOVATIVE SEMILLON TASTING IN LONDON

With the objective of rescuing Semillón, four Chilean wineries traveled to London to lead an unprecedented tasting among several relevant industry players, who seek to restore this variety to the position it deserves in the wine industry.

The event called “The Semillón Sessions, A New Chile”, held on September 6 and 7, was promoted by the wineries Aresti, Bouchon, Carmen and J.A. Jofré, and reflects the faithful commitment to the viticulture heritage, showing, in turn, the diversity of styles and terroirs of Chile.

Aresti Trisquel 2016, J.Bouchon Granito Semillon 2016, Carmen DO Quijada Semillon 2016, J. A. Jofré Semillon 2016 and Las Mercedes Singular Semillon 2016 were among the Chilean wines that were shown at the seminar that was moderated by the Master of Wine, Richard Hemming.

Participants, including the Masters of Wine Peter Richards, Tim Atkin and Patrick Schmitt, were also able to taste Semillon from South Africa, France, Australia and Argentina, including Moss Wood Semillon 2015, Mendel Semillon 2016, Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2009, Chateau Bauduc, Trois Hectares 2015 and Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2013.

The Semillon is a variety original from the French southwest. It was the most planted white grape in Chile, having in the 60’s more than 30 thousand hectares of vineyards, and the undisputed variety with which the best white wines of Chile were made, thanks to its golden skin grapes that make dry and sweet wines. However, since the 1980s, when Chile began to export its wines, it began to be displaced by the most demanded white varieties in destination countries, such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

According to the last vineyard cadastre of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), Semillón has 959 hectares planted at national level and in the last eight years, the planted hectares of this variety have increased by 23.1%.