Fires Scorch Chile’s Vineyards

As you may have heard, forest fires are devastating Chile’s vineyards, including 100-year-old vines in the region of Maule, an area that has been undergoing a winemaking renaissance, with dozens of terrific small vintners. (They were also hammered by the earthquake in 2010.)

As I write this, the Chilean grape and wine growers association is in an emergency meeting to determine just who and how many vineyards are involved. It’s too soon to say what effect this natural disaster will have on the country’s exports, including its high-end Cabernet and Carménère. Stay tuned….