The main topic of the highly expected World Expo in Shanghai this year is “Better city, better world”. I have visited the site in July and from what I saw I came one important conclusion: Many countries think that not only better city means better world for them but also producing wine can [apparently] make our world better!
It is no wonder that the pavilions of France and Italy shared their pride in making wine with the visitors, but the Chilean exhibition must have made them to be a bit blushed as it showed substantially more of their wine and confirmed that in Chile they take the wine seriously. An excellent wine bar together with a wine shop and young Chileans eager to answer you all questions that can pop into your head were surely one of the main highlights of the Chilean pavilion.
I have tasted one or two glasses of their great red wines and in the spare time took some pictures for you.
I have learned that the red grape variety Carmenere, which was thought to be extinguished and was one of the six original grape varieties found in Bordeaux [France], is still flourishing in its full strength in Chile. The Chileans are proud of their unique grape as my excited guide’s attitude revealed.
"Wine rack" at Chilean Pavilion
Wine tasting at the Chilean pavilion
The wine producer Montgras is one of the Carmenere enthusiasts. Its deep, fruity and dense flavour is a bit of contrast to the astringent Cabernet Sauvignon popular nowadays in Bordeaux. For a long time it was thought that Carmenere in Chile was Merlot for it shares many characteristics with this fruity and juicy grape variety.
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