You may have tried wines from Argentina and Chile, but have you discovered Brazilian bubbly yet? Or dry Muscat from Bolivia, Tannat from Uruguay or Quebranta from Peru? Discover the great classics and some of the off-beat wine regions in South America. With over 500 years of wine production, South America has undoubtedly developed its own styles of wines and an enticing culture and lifestyle.
Here are the wine regions in South America that we visited with 80 Harvests, but you can also discover more of South America’s wine regions at our sister-site: South America Wine Guide.
80 Harvest’s South America Wine Guide
Argentina Wine Guide
Chile Wine Guide
Brazil Wine Guide
Uruguay Wine Guide
Bolivia Wine Guide
Peru Wine Guide
Argentina Wine Guide
The main wine regions of Argentina can be split into three: the north, the middle (Cuyo) and the south. I picked three regions to focus on for 80 Harvests and produced several guides, videos and databases for each.
From north Argentina, I focused on Cafayate, which is undoubtedly the most prized region in Salta, renowned for its Torrontés, spicy empanadas and high-altitude vineyards.
The majority of Argentina’s wine production is concentrated in the middle of Argentina, and Mendoza is the powerhouse. Within Mendoza, I zeroed in on the Uco Valley, which is at the heart of the modern wine scene and is producing some of the finest Malbecs in the country, as well as top Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Down in the south, in Argentine Patagonia, there are two main regions – Neuquén and Río Negro. I focused on the old vines and new wines of Río Negro, an area with a milder climate where Pinot Noir and red blends are the order of the day. And for anyone who wants to look beyond our focus regions, I also have a guide dedicated to all the other great wine regions of Argentina.
Cafayate Wine Region Guide – Salta
Uco Valley Wine Region Guide – Mendoza
Río Negro Wine Region Guide – Patagonia
Want to read more about the other wine regions of Argentina? Click here!
Chile Wine Guide
Chile’s slender figure might fool you into thinking it has little space for diversity. The truth couldn’t be more different. Running north to south between the extremes of the cold Pacific Ocean and the height of the Andes Mountains, Chile is narrow but is filled with contrasts.
I picked four wine regions to focus on in Chile, each of which brings something very different to Chile’s wine scene. Firstly I picked San Antonio (and nearby Casablanca) as the focus region for Chile’s coastal wine production, where zesty Sauvignon Blanc rules supreme.
My Central Valley region of choice is Apalta in Colchagua, a small hillside area which embraces the full-bodied, fruit-driven nature of this area, while delivering supreme quality, especially in its Carmenère, Syrah and red blends.
From the Andes Mountains, I focused on perhaps the most famous region of all in Chilean wine – Puente Alto in Maipo. The gravel soils and cool evenings in this area give it a mesoclimate that is renowned for producing some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in South America.
And my last region, which happens to be one of my personal favourites, is one of Chile’s oldest and has a wealth of old vines and a long winemaking tradition – Itata Valley. Here I interviewed local producers and winemakers to find out what makes it unique not only in Chile, but a wine heritage site for the world.
It is hard to just stick to a few regions though, so you can also discover more Chilean wine with my interviews and visits elsewhere in Chile too!
Chile’s Coastal Wine Region: San Antonio
Chile’s Central Valley Wine Region: Apalta, Colchagua
Chile’s Andes Region: Puente Alto, Maipo
Chile’s Old Vine Region: Itata
Want to read more about the Chilean wine scene? Click here!
–
Brazil Wine Guide
Brazil is undoubtedly a surprising wine country. You more readily associate Brazil with beaches, bikinis and the beautiful game. However Brazil‘s main wine region – Vale dos Vinhedos in Serra Gaucha – has a long and fascinating history producing vinho.
During my visit I interviewed several winemakers, tasted lots of great bubbles and other great wines, and ate more pasta than I was expecting! Find out more and discover Brazil’s wine heritage and history in my…
Brazil Wine Guide: Vale dos Vinhedos
Want to learn more about Brazil’s wine regions and producers? Click here!
–
Uruguay Wine Guide
Uruguay is one of my favourite countries in South America precisely because it is so underrated. Everyone knows about the beaches of Brazil, the steak of Argentina and the tango of Buenos Aires – but Uruguay has all of those great things too and none of the locals will boast about it!
The wine is also under the radar. Uruguayan Tannat is world-renowned but there are still only a blessed few who have tasted its Albariño, Arnais and Arinarnoa… Check out the interviews with different winemakers to get a taste of what’s going on in the vineyard and winery, as well as my guides to the wines and everything you need to know about its main wine region – Canelones.
Uruguayan Wines & Wine Region Guide
Keen to learn more about Uruguay’s wine regions and wines? Click here!
–
Bolivia Wine Guide
With the highest altitude vines in the world, Bolivia is an extraordinary wine country. It was my first time to Bolivia, so I was keen to unwrap its history, gastronomy and of course, its wines.
The wines of Bolivia are quite hard to find outside of Bolivia (although you might taste some Bolivian Singani elsewhere!) so the best bet is to visit Tarija which is a quick flight from Bolivia’s capital, La Paz. You can probably expect some altitude sickness but I found that was quickly improved with a Singani and ginger spritzer!
Guide to Bolivia’s wine and Tarija
Learn more about Bolivian wine and wine producers here!
–
Peru Wine Guide
Peru was the first country where vines were planted in South America but it is rarely the first that comes to mind when you think of South American wine! Better known for its Pisco, Peru’s wine production is slightly off-the-beaten-track for most wine consumers but it is well worth discovering.
Peru was actually the first harvest destination not only for my South America wine guide but also the very first of my 80 Harvests destinations. Through meeting the winemakers and visiting the vineyards, I discovered why Peruvian wine is beginning to see a renaissance. Check out my guide to Ica, Peru’s gastronomy and my
Guide to Peruvian Wine
Interested in learning more about Peru’s wine regions? Click here!
I hope that our 80 Harvests South American wine guide (which formed the first 11 of our 80 Harvests!) is useful for you. If you found it useful please help support the rest of the journey! Thank you.
Keen to learn more about South America’s wine regions? Visit the South America Wine Guide!
