Argentina & Chile
South American wines from Argentina and Chile are known for excellent quality and affordability, making them a popular choice among wine enthusiasts around the world. Here at Peter Maude Fine Wines we represent wines that connect to our roots in France – such as Cheval des Andes and Almaviva.
Click here to read more.One of the world’s biggest wine producers, Argentina’s winemaking history dates back to the 16th century. Famous for its reds – particularly bold, fruity Malbecs – Argentina’s growers and winemakers coax exciting new-world styles from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Blanc, Syrah, and slightly more obscure (but well worth exploring) late ripening Petit Verdot and Carmenere grape varietals.
Key Argentinian wine regions in the Andes foothills benefit from high altitude, cool temperatures, and long sunlight hours. The Mendoza region accounts for more than two-thirds of the country's wine production, thanks to its diverse soil types of sand, clay, and rocks that lend its wines a distinctive mineral character. Its Uco Valley vines, planted at up to 1,400 metres above sea level, are challenged by a dry desert climate of extreme temperature fluctuations. Other regions of note include San Juan and La Rioja.
Chile is home to a wide range of wines, both red and white. The Maipo Valley outside Santiago produces prestigious reds, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon. Other important Chilean wine-growing regions include the Casablanca Valley, known for its crisp white wines, and the Colchagua Valley, for full-bodied reds. Chilean winemakers have also been innovating with lesser-known grape varieties in recent years.
Chile's unique geography and climate, with the Andes Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, provide a diverse range of terroirs: from the limestone soils of the Apalta Valley and their rich, full-bodied red wines, to the crisp, mineral-driven white wines grown in the granite soils of the Elqui Valley.
We are proud to share our handpicked South American range of ground-breaking new world blends set to shine in the cellar – such as Argentina's Cheval des Andes and Chile's Almaviva.