ChileJewel of South America

Learn About Chile, Its Economic Produce/Food and Wine

ChileAbout Chile, Produce & Wine

Learn about Chile, one of the most Learn about Chile, one of the most progressive countries in South progressive countries in South America.America.The People, Government, The People, Government, Industries, Key Exports, Foods and Industries, Key Exports, Foods and the Wine that now rivals the the Wine that now rivals the traditional wine regions of the world. traditional wine regions of the world.

About Chile

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About ChileBrief History

■ Before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Mapuche inhabited central and southern Chile.

■ Chile declared its independence in 1810. In the 1879-83 War of the Pacific, Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions.

■ After a series of elected governments, a three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup led by Augusto Pinochet, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990.

■ Sound economic policies, since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth.

■ Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

About ChileGeography

■ Location: ► Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific

Ocean, between Argentina and Peru■ Area:

► Total: 756,102 sq km► Note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala

y Gomez■ Area - comparative:

► Slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana■ Land boundaries:

► Total: 6,339 km border countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 km

■ Coastline: ► 6,435 km

■ Climate: ► Temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central

region; cool and damp in south

■ Terrain: ► Low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in

east■ Elevation Extremes:

► Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m ► Highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m

■ Natural Resources: ► Copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum,

hydropower■ Land Use:

► Arable land: 2.62% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.95% (2005)

■ Irrigated land: ► 19,000 sq km (2003)

■ Total Renewable Water Resources: ► 922 cu km (2000)

■ Natural Hazards: ► Severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

About ChileGeography

■ Population: ► 16,746,491 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

■ Age Structure: ► 0-14 years: 22.7% ► 15-64 years: 67.9% ► 65 years and over: 9.3% (2010 est.)

■ Population Growth Rate: ► 0.856% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

■ Urbanization: ► Urban population: 88% of total population (2008) ► Rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

■ Infant mortality rate: ► Total: 7.52 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 166

■ Life Expectancy at Birth: ► Total population: 77.53 years country comparison to the world: 57

About ChilePeople

About ChilePeople

■ Total fertility rate: ► 1.9 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the

world: 141■ Ethnic groups:

► White and white-Amerindian 95.4%, ► Mapuche 4%,

■ Religions: ► Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness

1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)■ Languages:

► Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English■ Literacy:

► Total population: 95.7%

About ChileEconomy

■ Chile has a market-oriented economy.■ A high level of foreign trade and a reputation for strong financial

institutions.■ Exports account for more than one-fourth of Gross Domestic

Product.■ Copper alone provides one-third of government revenue. ■ During the early 1990s, Chile's economic reform was

strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio Aylwin deepened the economic reform.

■ A severe drought in 1999, caused, for the first time in more than 15 years, a negative economic growth. In the years since then, growth has averaged 4% per year.

About ChileGovernment

■ Government type: ► Republic

■ Capital: ► Name: Santiago

■ Administrative divisions: ► 15 regions including Antarctica Note: the United States does not recognize claims to Antarctica

■ National holiday: ► Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

■ Legal system: ► Derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law ► Note - in June 2005, Chile completed overhaul of its criminal justice system to a US-style

adversarial system■ Executive branch:

► Chief of state: President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11 March 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

■ Legislative branch: ► Bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (38 seats;

members elected by popular vote to serve eight-year terms; one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

■ Flag description: ► Two bands of white (top) and red; a blue square with a white star at the hoist-side end of the white

band; the star represents a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red represents the blood spilled to achieve independence

► Note: design was influenced by the US flag

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Chilean Fruit Exports

■ Chile accounts for almost 50% of the Southern Hemisphere fruit exports specializing in grapes, apples, kiwis, avocados, plums, nectarines, peaches and pears.

■ 37% of the exports go to the United States and are a main source of fruits during the winter months

Chilean Exports

■ Produce is three of the top ten products exported to the United States: ►#2 - Fruits & preparations (e.g. frozen juices); $1.3

billion (14%, up 17.9%)►#3 - Fish & shellfish; $957 million (10%, up 26.1%)►#9 - Wine & related products; $170.4 million (1.8%,

up 2.5%) The fifth largest exporter of wine in the world

Chilean FoodOverview

■ The Spanish came to Chile in 1541 and they brought grapes, olives, walnuts, chestnuts, rice, wheat, citrus fruits, sugar, garlic, and spices. They also brought chicken, beef, sheep, pigs, rabbits, milk, cheeses, and sausages.

■ The native Amerindians used corn in many of their dishes. The combination of the Spanish and Amerindians' foods formed popular corn-based dishes that are still part of the diet in the twenty-first century.

■ Popular dishes include empanadas (a meat and vegetable turnover) and pastel de choclo (a corn and meat pie).

■ Fresh seafood of all kinds is in abundance and eaten regularly.

Chilean FoodOverview

■ Chile has many German, Italian and Arab immigrants.

■ Each group brought its style of cooking to Chile. The Germans brought pastries, Italians brought ices and flavored them with Chilean fruits.

■ The Arab immigrants brought their use of certain spices and herbs, and the combination of sweet and salty tastes.

■ Between 1880 and 1900, British immigrants brought tea to Chile. Teatime continues to be enjoyed in modern Chile.

Chilean FoodTraditional Dish

■ Chilean Empanadas are a typical dish combining the influences of all immigrant cultures.

■ Empanadas are a pastry pouch filled with ground beef, raisins, chopped hard boiled egg, onions, olives and spices.

■ Its traditional to serve Empanadas on Sept 18th, Chilean Independence Day.

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Chilean WineWine Producing Regions

■ Chile has a diverse geography with many regions well suited to grapes production.

■ A history of wine making which improves with each year.

Chilean WineWine Producing Regions

■ Atacama► The region is known primarily for its

Pisco production. Atacama is also an important source of table grapes.

■ Coquimbo► Like the Atacama this region is primarily known for

Pisco and table grapes.■ Aconcagua

► Casablanca is one of Chile's cooler wine regions and grows grape varietals like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

► Casablanca's growing seasons last up to a month longer than other regions, typically harvesting in April. 

► The northern region of Aconcagua is Chile's warmest wine region and is primarily planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

► The soil of this region is composed mainly of alluvial deposits left over from ancient river beds.

Chilean WineWine Producing Regions

■ Valle Central ► This is Chile's most productive and internationally

known wine region, due in large part to its close proximately to the country's capital Santiago.

► The Maipo Valley is the most widely cultivated valley and is known for Cabernet Sauvignon.

► The Rapel wine region in the Colchagua Province is also known for it Cabernet. Curicó has both red and white wine varieties planted but is most widely known for it Chardonnay.

► The Maule Valley still has large plantings of the local Pais but is gradually being planted with better red wine varieties.

■ Southern Chile ► The region is primarily known for its mass produce

Pais box and jug wines though Concha y Toro Winery has experimented with Gewürztraminer from this region.  

► The southern regions have more rainfall, lower average temperatures and fewer hours of sunlight than the northern wine regions.

Chilean WineWine Making

■ Financial investment by European and American winemakers included opening up their own wineries or collaborating with existing Chilean wineries to produce new brands. These include:► Robert Mondavi, collaboration with Viña Errázuriz to

produce Sena► Miguel A. Torres, Catalan winemaker opened Miguel

Torres Chile in 1979► Kendall-Jackson, opened Viña Calina► Château Lafite Rothschild, collaboration with Los

Vascos► Bruno Prats, Owner of Château Cos d'Estournel, and

Paul Pontallier, technical director of Chateau Margaux, opened Domaine Paul Bruno

► Château Mouton Rothschild, collaboration with Concha y Toro Winery to produce Almaviva

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