South America

Melting snows and rains from the Andes Mountains feed the vineyards of Chile and Argentina, South America’s principal wine-producing countries — both of which have made enormous progress in recent years. Argentina, the world’s fifth-largest wine-making nation, is known mostly for its reds, primarily from Criolla and Malbec grapes, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Its white wines include Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs.

Chile’s vineyards, first planted by Spanish missionaries in the mid-1500s, mostly in the central part of the country, today feature a fine assortment of red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling grapes are cultivated for white wine production.

Recent developments in the California wine industry have led major wineries there to establish operations in Chile and Argentina. Robert Mondavi, Kendall-Jackson, Sebastiani, Fetzer, and Hess are among those that have started to produce wines from South America.