Ferran on Chile – the north

Northern Chilean vineyards

See Ferran’s introduction to this project. Tasting reports on central and southern Chile to follow.

My tasting of the wines of northern Chile comprised the regions of Atacama, Coquimbo and Valparaíso. To give you an idea of the distances involved, Copiapó (Atacama) is 800 km (500 miles) from Valparaíso, nine hours by car. (For the locations of the regions discussed here, see Ferran's infographic, repeated below.)

Overall, this was a magnificent tasting and, unsurprisingly, both Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay shone among whites while Pinot Noir and Syrah did it for reds.

The tasting was organised in the following order...