Discovering South America: Values, Icons & Collectibles You Can’t Miss
Discovering South America
October 2025
Across Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and beyond, a new generation of winemakers is redefining what the region’s wines can be—balancing deep-rooted tradition with modern precision and a profound respect for place. From the windswept plains of Patagonia to the sun-soaked valleys of Mendoza and Colchagua, South American wines have never been more exciting, delicious, or collectible. In this issue, we explore the incredible diversity and value this continent has to offer:
Unmissable South American Values
Biodynamic Elegance in Argentina: Bodega Chacra
From Extinction to Icon: The Rebirth of Carménère in Chile
Bordeaux's Influence in South America Yields Top Collectibles
Unmissable South American Values
The quality of South American wines has never been higher. With significant investment in vineyard management, cutting-edge winemaking technology, and a strong commitment to sustainable practices that highlight each site's unique terroir, today’s wines from the region are truly exceptional. The most collectible bottles are better than ever, and even at the value end of the market, there are incredible finds that shouldn’t be missed. Below are a few of my favorites—perfect for holiday celebrations or simply enjoying a quiet evening at home. Learn more about these wines On the Trail.
-Rachael Ryan, K&L South American Wine Buyer
2024 Dos Minas Torrontés Cafayate $12.99 View
2022 Kaiken Torrontes Cafayate $15.99 View
2024 Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling Salta 95 $9.99 View
2023 Laberinto "Arcillas de Laberinto" Riesling Maule Valley 97 $19.99 View
2023 Trasiego "Green Quartz" Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca 92 $12.99 View
2023 Wapisa Sauvignon Blanc Rio Negro Patagonia 91 $16.99 View
2023 Trasiego "Manos Andinas" Gran Reserva Semillon Valle de Maule $14.99 View
2024 Gillmore Vermentino Maule Valley 94 $17.99 View
2024 Aniello Blanco de Pinot Noir Rio Negro Patagonia 91 $19.99 View
2022Laberinto "Arcillas" Pais Maule Valley 95 $21.99 View
2023 Los Tercos Bonarda Mendoza $13.99 View
2021 J. Bouchon "Canto Sur" Red Blend Maule Valley 95 $12.99 View
2023 Siete Fincas Malbec Mendoza $17.99 View
2022 Calcu Carmenere Gran Reserva Valle de Colchagua 92 $14.99 View
2023 Trasiego "Manos del Sur" Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo $12.99 View
2022 Altocedro "La Consulta Select" Red Blend Mendoza 94 $21.99 View
2022 Gillmore Aglianico Maule Valley 92 $18.99 View
Biodynamic Elegance in Argentina: Bodega Chacra
Bodega Chacra is not your average Argentine winery. Nestled in the remote Río Negro Valley of northern Patagonia, this biodynamic estate has quietly redefined what’s possible in South American winemaking—especially with Pinot Noir.
To understand why Chacra is special, however, you have to start with its founder: Piero Incisa della Rocchetta, a man born into an established wine family but eager to pursue his passion beyond his place of birth. As the grandson of Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, the legendary creator of Sassicaia—one of Italy’s most iconic wines—Piero had access to decades of Tuscan winemaking tradition. But rather than remain in Bolgheri, he turned south.
His moment of inspiration came in the early 2000s, when Piero tasted a Patagonian Pinot Noir at a blind tasting of Pinot Noirs in New York. The wine was striking—not flashy or flamboyant, but pure, mineral-driven and brimming with energy, as he recalls. To his surprise, it was from Patagonia. After a few years of searching for the ideal Patagonian vineyard to begin a winemaking project, in 2004, he bought a parcel of near-abandoned vines planted in 1932. That vineyard, now known simply as Treinta y Dos, became the heart of Chacra and still produces the top wine of the estate. Keep reading On the Trail.
2024 Bodega Chacra "Mainqué" Chardonnay Rio Negro Patagonia 97 $69.99 View
2024 Bodega Chacra "Barda" Pinot Noir Rio Negro Patagonia 94 $34.99 View
2024 Bodega Chacra "Cincuenta y Cinco" Pinot Noir Rio Negro Patagonia 97 $69.99 View
2024 Bodega Chacra "Lunita" Pinot Noir Rio Negro Patagonia 97 $69.99 View
2023 Bodega Chacra "Treinta y Dos" Pinot Noir Rio Negro Patagonia 99 $159.99 View
From Extinction to Icon: The Rebirth of Carménère in Chile
Few grapes have a story as improbable—or as poetic—as Carménère’s journey from extinction to rebirth. Once a noble variety of Bordeaux, it was thought lost forever after the 19th-century phylloxera blight devastated France’s vineyards. Yet, half a world away, Carménère quietly survived in Chile’s Central Valley, mistaken for Merlot for more than a century. When ampelographers finally identified it in the early 1990s, they uncovered not only a viticultural mystery but a national treasure. In Chile’s temperate climate—blessed with dry summers, cool nights, and phylloxera-free soils—Carménère flourished, achieving the ripeness and aromatic depth it never found in Bordeaux. Today, it stands as Chile’s signature red grape, celebrated for its supple texture, dark fruit, and subtle herbal spice—a wine that embodies both resilience and rediscovery, and a powerful reminder that great varieties, like great traditions, sometimes find their truest voice far from home.
2022 Los Morros Carmenere Central Valley Chile $11.99 View
2021 Ventisquero "Vértice" Carménère-Syrah Valle de Colchagua 96 $31.99 View
2020 Ventisquero "Vértice" Carménère-Syrah Valle de Colchagua 95 $31.99 View
2020 Viña Maquis "Lien" Red Blend Valle de Colchagua 94 $34.99 View
2018 Montes "Purple Angel" Carménère Valle de Colchagua 98 $84.99 View
2021 Montes "Purple Angel" Carménère Valle de Colchagua 97 $117.99 View
Bordeaux's Influence in South America Yields Top Collectibles
The top Bordeaux blends from Chile and Argentina often rival their European and North American counterparts in quality but remain undiscovered by many. With exceptional quality that seems to improve every vintage, however, these wines can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Bordeaux, Napa, or even Barolo — and at a very attractive price point. In recent decades, investment, technology, and international winemaking expertise have elevated quality. Winemakers are increasingly focusing on single-vineyard expressions, sustainable and organic practices, and minimal intervention. Below are just a handful of benchmark wines to consider adding to your collection: Keep reading here.
ARGENTINA
2020 Catena Zapata "Nicolás Catena Zapata" Bordeaux Blend Mendoza 98 $109.99 View
2021El Enemigo "Gran Enemigo - Gualtallary" Cabernet Franc Mendoza (Pre-Arrival) 99 $109.99 View
2021 Familia Zuccardi "Finca Piedra Infinita" Malbec Paraje Altamira Mendoza (Pre-Arrival) 99 $149.99 View
2022 Cheval des Andes Bordeaux Blend Mendoza (Pre-Arrival) 99 $99.99 View
CHILE
2020 Almaviva "EPU" Bordeaux Blend Puente Alto Valle de Maipo 94 $49.99 View
2023 Almaviva Bordeaux Blend Puente Alto Valle de Maipo (Pre-Arrival) 97 $129.99 View
2021 Clos Apalta "Le Petit Clos" Red Blend Valle de Colchagua 96 $49.99 View
2021 Clos Apalta Red Blend Valle de Colchagua (Pre-Arrival) 100 $124.99 View
2022 Clos Apalta Red Blend Valle de Colchagua 6-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) 99 $659.99 View
2018 Seña Bordeaux Blend Valle de Aconcagua 100 $124.99 View
2021 Seña Bordeaux Blend Valle de Aconcagua 100 $129.99 View
2023 Seña Bordeaux Blend Valle de Aconcagua (Pre-Arrival) 99 $109.99 View
2022 Concha y Toro "Don Melchor" Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Maipo 99 $149.99 View