Andes Wines’ sweets and pastry writer Suzanne Taylor sips through the history of coffee drinking in Chile, brings some light into the local popularity of instant coffee, and the principle behind the quintessential café con piernas.

You just can’t beat chillin’ out in a sidewalk café enjoying a nice cup of joe.

This is not an experience to take lightly down here in Santiago, however. It wasn’t all that long ago that there was a perception out there about Chile’s coffee scene being somewhat lacklustre.

A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have blamed visitors for bringing beans from home. Going into a restaurant, at times, meant you got some hot water and some Nescafé instant coffee. Thankfully, the times are changing.

A couple of weekends ago, I happened to come across the 1st Annual Cafe Expo held in Espacio Juventud in Providencia, where coffee baristas got to demonstrate the art of making wonderful lattes and espressos. Could it be that Chile is finally shedding this age old reputation of bad coffee and is embracing a new atmosphere of coffee bean supremacy?

Yes, you may be thinking like I did when I first got here: When you are on the same continent as some of the biggest and best coffee producers in the world, how can you not get a decent cup of coffee in Chile? Unlike Brazil and Colombia, coffee has never been a traditional hot drink down here. It really has been in the last 50 years or so that it has started to take hold; more on this point later.

Before that, tea and a drink called “Ulpo” were the choices; Ulpo got its start when the Spanish conquistadores brought wheat to be grown in the south. The Mapuche toasted the wheat, ground it and added it to hot water with some honey. This was very popular in the countryside, and in some parts it still is.

Now, about 50 years ago, a group of business men got together and decided they would really like to have a place to go in the afternoons and have their espresso. A new business was born, Café Haiti, which was soon to be known as the first café con piernas (coffee with legs) This wasn’t any ordinary business as it was a coffee shop where the female servers all wore very tight fitting attire and high heels while offering only conversation… and fresh brewed coffee, of course.

Other coffee houses soon took off as did a little extra clothing in some places- ever wondered about those blacked out windows downtown!? One thing about most of these places is that the coffee is served from a bar and all the patrons are standing. So you really don’t have the relaxed, laid back atmosphere that you find in the cafes in Europe or even next door in Argentina.

But then again, Chileans seem to never have time for big, leisurely moments to enjoy a cup of coffee. Take breakfast, for instance. Back during the 70’s, Nestlé started a marketing campaign that capitalized on this fact by introducing instant coffee that could be made quickly and anywhere with just hot water at any time.

Of course today you will still see store shelves lined with Nescafé bottles and cans, but kitchens and supermarkets are starting to make room for more and more whole bean stuff (yeah!).

It’s 2012 now, and Chile’s economy is booming. Many Chileans are traveling overseas and people are flocking here. More people want to experience what they have enjoyed in other parts of the world. Now they get to relax with our favourite cup in many different cafes throughout Santiago offering different blends and preparations, and I don’t just mean the stand-up kind. Even those diehard fans of Starbucks –impossible not to miss the famous green label even here in Chile- can have their way.

My favourite places are the ones that have hidden patios and gardens that take you away from the hectic pace. There are the ones that play a great mix of music and have a nice shaded terrace. You can sit back, relax and chill.

So next time you go off on a trip, just leave room in your suitcase for other things than coffee. It won’t take you long to find a small cafetería with interesting alternatives from around the world.

If you’re in Providencia, check out:

Café Espresso-Avenida Pedro De Valdivia 1974

Nice easy going music, light snacks and sandwiches. Really enjoyed the pear and almond tart!

Café Plaza Victoria – Santa Isabel 052

Right next to the Santa Isabel Metro stop, with a little garden patio in the back. They’ve got delicious European style cheesecake made with ricotta cheese, yum!

Andes Wines

andes@andeswines.com

Twitter @andeswines

(Santiago, January 2012) Chilean wine marketing and strategy firm Andes Wines announced that it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Norwegian web applications developer nLink, as part of its new spin-off project “WineAmix: Digital Laboratory”.

Wine Amix’s main objective is to fuel innovation in the winemaking, food, tourism, and entertainment businesses with the use of digital tools. For this purpose, it will offer a custom-made service in the design and implementation of digital tools to improve customer relationship management initiatives, as well as generate and/or increase sales using the Web as a tool.

Through this alliance, Andes Wines and nLink will work together to develop and deliver high definition web applications starting with an interactive “wine-quiz,” a game platform that will bring together winemakers and consumers in 15 countries.

Halvor Gregusson, co-founder of nLink, said: “This partnership combines two successful industries in the San Francisco region. The wine industry can leverage from the market communication provided by well designed applications. In return, tech-consumers will gladly spread the word about their new app when they find good tasting wine in their physical mailbox. Working with Andes Wines, which possess the logistics for branding and exporting wine, is a vital part in the future of Word of Mouth marketing.”

In the meantime, the companies have jointly begun to search for investment partners in Silicon Valley and San Francisco in order to raise around US$ 2 million in start-up capital, all the while they have begun negotiations with wineries in Chile and the United States to offer this service.

Andes Wines’ spin-off emerges as a result of the firm’s ten years of experience in the international markets after becoming the first wine marketing firm in South America, with an office in Santiago led by the company’s CEO Maximiliano Morales.

“We are currently making US$ 1 million in gross sales through our wine, beer and gourmet products sales, which motivated us to set up this ‘spin off’ due to our knowhow in selling, marketing and promoting Chilean wine abroad,” said Morales from Andes Wines”, CEO Morales said.

The agreement was signed in December 2011 in San Francisco, California, in parallel to Morales’ participation in a two-week Silicon Valley Immersion Program California, at the University of San Francisco, after being awarded a grant by Chilean economic development agency Corfo- Innova Bío Bío.

For more information, contact:

Andes Wines

andes@andeswines.com

Twitter @andeswines

(56)(2) 370 2997

Andes Wines’ sweets and pastry writer Suzanne Taylor shares her impressions about some food traditions that surround Christmas and New Year’s in Chile, and reveals a secret about the once, the quintessential Chilean meal, that will leave many wondering…

One of the best ways to learn about a different culture is to share food and drink. Some of the Christmas customs in Chile may mirror those in the north. But then when you factor in the summertime heat, it all goes south from there, but in the best way.

Let’s start with a local must be. Throughout the year, Chileans enjoy a light snack called “once” (pronounced “own-say”) in the late afternoon. At Christmas time, this snack becomes especially important because they won’t have dinner until 9-10 on Christmas Eve. Because let’s face it, no one wants to cook a turkey when it’s sweltering outside!

Rumour has it that once started long ago when men wanted to have a drink at 5pm. Happy Hour back then was considered taboo. So they devised the code word “once” which means “eleven” in Spanish and is also the exact same amount of letters in the alcohol “aguardiente”. I see a bit of a pattern here.

Now, this same alcohol is in the seasonal drink, “Cola de Mono,” or monkey’s tail. Don’t worry; no monkeys were harmed in the making of this drink. It consists of milk, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, coffee, sugar and aguardiente; it’s the equivalent to drinking eggnog.

The typical feasts include roast turkey, chicken or beef, potatoes and crisp salads. For dessert, there are fresh fruits and Pan de Pascua. Some say it is like fruit cake, but I would say that it is a closer cousin to the Italian Panettone. It is not commonly made at home because, again, who wants to spend all that time in a hot kitchen when you can be by the pool with your Cola de Mono.

However, for me it just doesn’t feel like Christmas unless there are shortbread cookies around. So I decided to give it a try here, using local ingredients…

In my defence, I can tell you that back in Calgary, I would make thousands of cookies leading up Christmas. But of course, I had a huge mixer to help. In my rented furnished apartment here in Santiago, I had a bowl and a spoon.

All I wanted to make was a small batch of cookies! At one point I started to have one of those moments… you know, one of those What was I thinking? moments, when all I had to do was look at the butter and it would melt. Not the consistency I wanted in my cookie dough.

In the end, the cookies looked great but they had a bit of a crumble problem which I rather suspect is because of the flour difference down here. I’m sure I’ll find some volunteers for my next experiment.

There are interesting food traditions that are more common for New Year’s, as well. One is eating a spoonful of lentils, which supposedly will bring prosperity in the New Year. Considering the financial crisis over the last year, better make that two spoonfuls! Also, eating 12 grapes and making a wish with each grape. Lastly, my favourite, is bringing in the New Year with a glass of champagne and a scoop of pineapple sorbet inside! Yum!

So I bid farewell to 2011, and look forward to the delicious surprises I will write about in this hot Chilean summer. A hint: think fruit!

All the best for a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Andes Wines

andes@andeswines.com

Twitter @andeswines

The debate about how independent can wine critics really be added another chapter with American critic Jay Miller leaving The Wine Advocate, and both his former employer, Robert Parker, and the Institute of Master of Wine starting formal investigations on the alleged cash payments charged by Pancho Campo MW to secure access to Miller during his visit to Spanish wineries in 2011.

Miller´s decision to leave the magazine took place a few months after Decanter wine writer Jim Budd reported that winemakers in Spain were being told to pay 20,000 euros in management fees to have Miller visit their wine cellars while he toured the country during a visit organized by the Wine Academy of Spain, institution founded and directed by Campo (to read Budd’s report click here).

Budd’s extensive investigation, which revealed the e-mails that show Campo requesting Spanish winemakers to pay these fees to get Miller for a 2-day visit to their wineries and lead a wine tasting, has brought the legitimacy of the independence of wine critics to question once again.

In a public statement, Miller insisted that his departure from the magazine had been planned well before the scandal. While announcing his resignation from TWA he reiterated that he had never “accepted (or requested) fees for visiting wine regions or wineries”. He said that up until now he had felt “constrained” to respond to his critics by being part of the TWA staff. “While the office has defended my actions, justifiably, now it is time for me to speak for myself… I leave The Wine Advocate with a clear conscience,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, the publisher of the Wine Advocate and leading wine critic, Robert Parker, has defended Miller’s performance while working at the magazine, insisting that he “clearly and irrefutably has taken no money for a wine review or winery visit.”

Nonetheless, he will await the final report of the law firm Cozen O’Connor, which he asked to “determine whether our strict policy of independence in the review and tasting of wines for publication in The Wine Advocate or posting on www.eRobertparker.com was compromised by any conduct of The Wine Advocate or any other party associated with tastings in that region.”

The Institute of Masters of Wine has opened an investigation after receiving a formal complaint against Campo, as well.

Campo has denied the accusations and insisted that the management fees were destined to organized paid speeches by Miller, an not paid wine reviews.

In his blog Jim’s Loire, Budd has insisted that his reporting of these irregularities has no hidden agenda but to demonstrate how Campo was using Miller and the TWA brand for his own benefit.

He has insisted that his investigation shows “that the bodegas are being charged both for having their wines rated and assessed by Jay Miller for The Wine Advocate/erobertparker and for the opportunity to have their wines included in the master class as well as a possible visit to their bodega”.

The wine journalist has warned that “one aspect of this scandal that has yet to be explored is whether public money was used to pay Campo, The Wine Academy of Spain and Miller’s substantial lecturing fees”.

By Marta Lillo
Andes Wines Journalist

andes@andeswines.com
(56 2) 370 2997
twitter: @andeswines

Christmas always conjures up many memories and, of course me being Canadian, this usually involves snow; Santa Claus and Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer are usually factored in there as well.

This will be my second Christmas in Chile after last year, and I almost feel sorry for Santa Claus, known here as the Viejo Pascuero (Old Man Christmas). He doesn’t get top billing like he does in the northern hemisphere. There is a lot of other stiff competition out there that he is up against, not to mention having to wear that huge, heavy suit when it is more than 30 degrees outside. It’s like carrying around your own personal sauna.

It seems that in the past few years, stores in the United States and Canada have been stocking earlier and earlier for Christmas even before Halloween costumes have been decided on. But down here, decorations start to come out sometime in November and not to very much fanfare. There isn’t this barrage of commercials on TV trying to lure people to buy, buy, and buy some more. There is a scattering of decorated houses and apartments, but there are just too many other things to finish off before the end of the year.

People scurry around on their lunch hours; the streets are filled with tacos (Chilean for traffic jam). It’s enough for me to want to sit back and reach for a glass. Good thing there’s is plenty of choice for liquid refreshment in this country.

For Chile, the end of December does not only bring Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. This time of year also means end of the fiscal year for business, the start of summer holidays for students and other planning for family vacations and get-togethers. It always seems like there are not enough hours in the day. Well, imagine trying to organize Christmas parties and your child’s graduation ceremonies from school all in the same month.

To add more icing to the cake, a local university football team (that’s right America, not soccer!) has just won a major title, the South American Cup. This is like winning the Super Bowl, World Series and Stanley Cup all at once. I thought the New Year’s fireworks were being set off a little early after their win. Not to mention all the celebrating in the streets. Sorry Santa. You don’t stand a chance this year.

But no matter what side of the equator you’re on, one common factor always comes out on top. Getting together with family and friends is always what you will remember the most.

So I wish you a Merry Christmas! Stay tuned for my next column on Chilean Christmas holidays’ eating and drinking traditions, because there’s more to roasted turkey here. And for those feeling nostalgic, there’ll be a special treat for you: I will be making traditional Christmas desserts, Canuck style, using Chilean ingredients!

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

At Andes Wines we got curious about the absence of Chilean wines from Wine Spectator’s 2011 Top 100 Wine List. This is a referential ranking among winemakers worldwide, and not being on it for the first time since 2008, when Clos Apalta 2005 from Casa Lapostolle made it to the first place, got many in the industry concerned.

Let’s go back a little. From 1988, this influential wine magazine has been reviewing wines and compiling a 100 best list reflecting significant trends, outstanding productions, and successful vintages around the world. The ranking selects four criteria: quality, value, availability, and Wine Spectator’s own excitement about the wine producer, the vintage or the region, something they call “X-factor”. In their words, “these choices reflect our editors’ judgment and passion about the wines we tasted”.

So we asked Wine Spectator executive editor Tom Matthews why Chilean wines had not raised enough passion this year. His answer was very simple and toned down: Regions rise and fall every year.

“It is not a comment on Chilean wine quality in general; it has nothing to do with the change in our lead taster; it has no larger significance at all. It reflects only our editors’ judgements about the high points in wine during the year just past. Remember, we select this list from among the more than 16,000 wines we reviewed in 2011. That’s a lot of competition for only 100 spots,” he said from his office in New York.

Matthews compared the performance of Bordeaux and Chile over the past three years to explain the situation further. “In 2009, Chile had 2 and Bordeaux had 4. In 2010, Chile had 4 and Bordeaux had 1. In 2011, Chile has none, while Bordeaux has 2. So over the three years, Chile has had 6 total wines, while Bordeaux has had 7. And in 2008, Chile earned Wine of the Year honors with Clos Apalta 2005; the last time a Bordeaux was Wine of the Year was in 2004, with a Sauternes, Chateau Riussec 2001. So you could argue that in the recent past, Chile has done just as well as Bordeaux. In the future, who knows?” he said.

There is so much the wine industry can control, adds Matthews. Much will depend on factors like vintage variation, changes in the exchange rate, shifts in consumer demand, for Chile to make it back in the list. “But I believe that Chile will continue to be a major player in the US wine market, and a significant factor in our Top 100, for many years to come”, he insisted.

Andes Wines

andes@andeswines.com

(56) 2-3702997

twitter: @andeswines

By Concha y Toro

Among those present in Hong Kong was one of UK´s and Europe´s leading Masters of Wine, Tim Atkin. His main conclusion after two days of analysis, comradeship and tastings is that China continues to be difficult to invest in, that the lack of regulation is not to be taken lightly, and that those in the wine business that keep thinking this is the place to be must have patience, lots of patience (read blog here).

Even more so, with China projected to grow both demographically and economically at rates that are expected –and hoped as well- to compensate a fall in total world consumption due to the recent international crisis. Among the figures juggled is that if China imported 16.5 million cases in 2010, the number it is expected to reach 22 million this year. The outlook is that the Asian dragon will surpass the 100 million mark by 2020.

However, this optimist scenario doesn´t mean the wine business should overlook issues that may end up being mere “siren songs,” warns Atkin. A customs system lacking regulation concerning wine trade is not facilitating shipments; the fact that most fine wines are sold in Hong Kong due to its condition of free trade zone is helping to smuggle wines into the mainland to avoid the 48% rate imposed on any liquor sold on central China; local wines are uplifting their packaging and image, but this doesn´t necessarily mean they better quality, a warning that goes particularly to the foreign investment funds and businesses that are trying to buy local wineries.

To Atkin, that wealthy Chinese (particularly investment funds) still prefer fine Bordeaux such as Latife, Latour or Margaux doesn´t

By Concha y Toro

Andes Wines
andes@andeswines.com
(56) 2-3702997

-Your time is over- he confronts a surprised Cabernet Sauvignon. You have governed the chilean valleys for decades, but you didn’t achieve anything. Now it’s my turn to change the things.

- You don’t have any experience… so, how you think you can lead our exportations. You are a nobody!

-And you a halted and boring variety.

-People are not stupid. You are a variety that only wants power. Oportunist!

The mediator takes part.

- Time is over, Cabernet. I repeat, your time is over. Let the other candidates speak.

- I want to clarify that disqualifications are not my style- The Merlot interrupts. We all have to pull together… I believe in a viticulture where all the varieties have their space, where…

-You don’t exist! – interrupts the Carménère.

The merlot accuses the blow and asks for water. It’s dehydrated.

- You all represent the past of a country that nobody wants. As a movie star, I call to all the people to believe in my candidature, in a new style of politics – said the Pinot Noir.

- Shut up, peaky – muttered the Cabernet Sauvignon.

- Precisely, I believe in a country where doesn’t matter the origin or the color.

- How you say for you doesn’t matter the color? So, why are you recruting another varieties to set up your list of candidates for the Parliament? – intercede the Carménère.

- Because I believe in the diversity, in a viticulture where neither poor nor rich exists. Where everyone fits in Wines of Chile, where the small ones have the same rights that the big ones.
- You’re just a kid. One thing is to propose and other very different is to govern – replies the Cabernet Sauvignon.

The mediator said to the Cabernet and to the Carménère “Don’t monopolize the turns”.

- I think its our time: The white varieties. We’ve demonstrated what we can do. We’ve contributed to change tha image of our viticulture and we’ve refreshed our politics. But, in other hand, we still have many things to do…. we are trapped in a world where the red wines achieves the best scores, the higher prices….

-My preposition is to offer more cask and less chips… more fruit and less wood…- The Carménère ignores what the Sauvignon Blanc said.

-Demagoge – shouts another red variety that was remaining in silence.

-Who allow you to speak? First, you should define yourself. What you think you are? A frenchified, australian or chilean variety? Syrah or Shiraz?

-Hey, don’t forget us – demands the Carignan. For many time you treat us like we were the backyard of the chilean viticulture.You didn’t consider us. But now, when you want some votes, you are desperated to show a clear and varied image. Now you remembered this old grapevines you looked down on before.

-I promise to repay that debt progressively. I will give a bond to the countries that want to be grafted.

-Populist – shouts the Pinot Noir.

-What debt? – whispered the Cabernet Sauvignon.

-I suggest an unity government – says a red blend.

-Isn’t a bad idea – answered the other candidates.

-I agree – stated the Cabernet Sauvignon. But I am the most suitable to govern the blend.

The nematodes are the only ones that are celebrating.

First published in http://www.brethauer.cl and authorized by Eduardo Brethauer, editor of Vitis Magazine, to be published in Andes Wines.

Translated into english by César Gonzalez Fernandez.
Andes Wines Communications ™
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andes@andeswines.com

Grapes are good…Wine even better!!!

We visited around Las Violetas sector where Marichal is placed and we realised the great effort and care that family has had to work the vineyards, winery, and marketing of their wines, reaching to 250,000 produced bottles approx. besides table wine to internal market.

Tradition begins when Isabelino Marichal settled in Etcheverría area in 1910 and in that place he created the first variety of Tannat. 28 years later, he created a small golden wine cellar with underground fountains to get suitable wine conditions.

Since then, Marichal family set the importance of introducing specialized personnel: winemaking technicians ensuring the best wines with strong colours and forecasted structure and balance.

Craftsmanship in wine production has been transmitted to four generations, and in all of them the highest quality has been bet.

Currently, third and fourth generation is in charge of the company, having an international quality production.

Juan Andrés started his winemaking studies in Mendoza when he was 17 years old. After 5 years he graduated and initiated his work and specialization as a winemaker, driving him to lead the family business.

Vineyards’ location, 40 kilometres from the sea, weather with warm days and cool nights gives the suitable framework for grape harvest in order to be in the best development and expression conditions.

Harvested grapes are Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Merlot, Tannat, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon, Semillón and Pinot Noir.

Scandinavian market and specially the Finnish one are very important to Marichal, as they have managed to enter with a Sauvignon Blanc which has given them many opportunities that are being taken.

Nowadays, winery is focused on international markets trading their production in Brazil, Italy, Luxemburg, and Germany.

CASA FILGUEIRA WINERY

At the beginning of XX century, Winery bases were established in charge of Manuel Filgueira. Work was done in a reduced piece of land where grape were transformed using traditional methods into good quality table wine.

And that was the way how the prestige of Filgueira name was growing, synonymous of honesty and work which was consolidated with José Luis Filgueira’s performance, son of Manuel.

In 1992, he assumed the leading of Martha Chiossoni vineyard, José Luis’ wife, who gives new airs to the project, combining modern production techniques and traditional production process. All this resulted in company restructuring.

Wine production is made from own grapes and extraction does not exceed 8 tonnes per hectare, ensuring quality. In spite of the most modern production techniques, they continue with the essence of handmade work.

Casa Filgueira is located in the centre of the vineyard, enabling grape to be in a perfect condition and in the right point of ripening, in few minutes.

As a way of making the difference, Casa Filgueira bet in certifying under the ISO 14001:2000 standard, which gives clear outlines related to Environment Management.

Having excellent commercial relationships, Casa Filgueira Winery is open up to the Wine World. Their constant innovation and promptness to be in embassy tasting events abroad or international fair presentations different to traditional circle, as it was the “Octavo Salón del Vino” in Concepción, Chile.

85% of the production is focused on internal market and 15% on external market, proportion they wish to revert and this way reaching more markets.

Mexico DF, Brazil, North and South Ireland, Scotland, and England are some of the markets which Casa Filgueira’s wines are currently introduced.

Andes Wines Communications
andes@andeswines.com
              (56) 9-9-219 7117         (56) 9-9-219 7117