There has never been a greater focus on the idiosyncrasies and individual identities of South American terroir. The top wines of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay reflect a growing movement towards showing regionality over variety, and their winemakers are championing the top sub-regions through ever-more focused expressions.
With this riveting explosion of terroir-driven wines, there are a handful of wine regions that have come to the fore for their supreme quality but also, and perhaps more profoundly, their distinctive regional identity.
Appellations in evolution
Being part of the ‘New World’ can be both a blessing and handicap. While the lack of stringent rules can offer great creative freedom, it also begs the question whether no formal classification impedes chances of global recognition and reaching the upper echelons of the fine wine market.
There is no formality of a Cru, Growth or Pago system in South America, instead the wines are free of ranking — labelled only by variety, vintage and region. Conceptually, however, the wines have gone through a monumental evolution in the last three decades.
For full article, read on The World of Fine Wine.
