Three new broad-based appellations were added to Chile’s 1994 wine law late last year by Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture.

The three new complementary appellations are Costa (for coastal areas), Andes (for the mountain areas) and Entre Cordilleras (for areas between Chile’s two mountain ranges).

The concept of these new complementary appellations is founded upon true climatic parameters rather than topography and latitudinal positions which tend to help areas with greater topographical diversity.

Commonly thought of as having a very warm climate, the Colchagua region contained all three areas, while regions like Aconcagua, until the new ruling, did not have all their vineyards planted within the necessary topographical variations to qualify for appellation status.

For example, one leading winery’s recent coastal plantings of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay stand to benefit from the new Costa appellation because their vineyard is located only 9.5 kilometres from the sea and the vines grow under a powerful maritime influence.

At present, the new complementary appellations are voluntary but this will begin to appear on Chilean wine labels very soon.