History

Answer 1

1. Mid 16th: vinifera vines by Spanish settlers partly to celebrate Eucharist.
2. 1554: vine believed to arrive via Juan Jufre and Garcia de Cáceres in the Central Valley.
3. 17th: Spain tried to ban new plantings in Chile to protect exports but governor refused & encouraged hacienda devt.
4. 18th: reputation for quantity and low cost of wine
5. 1830: French Claudio Gay persuaded the government to set up the Quinta Normal experimental nursery which resulted in Chile having their own vinifera cuttings and eventually protection against Phylloxera.
6. 1851: Chilean Echazarreta travelled the world & imported Bordeaux vines. French Phylloxera refugees helped set up rich farmers’ wine-making estates.
7. 1870-1950s: the Chilean wine industry grows v healthily (vs. Phylloxera everywhere else) and v profitably in the hands of a few private companies. Hi local demand eventually meant taxes started creeping up.
8. 1970-early 80s: local demand declined and prices plummeted -> 50% of Chile’s vineyards pulled
9. 1980-90s: return of democracy and plantings of international varieties + significant investments to focus more on exports