SOUTH AMERICA WINE MARKETS

The history of wine in South America dates back to the 16th century. During the period of Spanish colonization, vines were first planted in Mexico, Chile and Argentina, then in Uruguay and Brazil.

The climate in the wine-growing regions of these South American countries proved ideal for the development of viticulture. Most of these vineyards benefit from high altitudes and generous annual sunshine, creating a diverse microclimate ideal for wine production.

Over the centuries, South American wine has flourished and gradually conquered the world market. In the 19th century, the introduction of French grape varieties enabled the region to modernize its viticulture. As a result, the region’s wines have different characteristics to those of French wines. The warm climate of these vineyards tends to accelerate grape ripening, giving the wines a more powerful structure and a generally higher alcohol content than French wines.