As India’s first and only Master of Wine, a qualification from the UK's Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW), I am often invited to represent the country at global wine tables. Today, India is the world’s third largest alcohol beverage market, where wine is the fastest growing category with nearly 700 million legal age consumers as of date; another 100 million join every five years. This scale often excites wine makers around the world, increasingly drawn to India’s potential.
It was this curiosity and opportunity that recently took me on a 30-hour journey from India to Chile to explore 16 of the country's most visionary wineries.
In just two decades, Chile has emerged as a globally-respected winemaking nation. Its wines are exported widely, and they regularly feature in international lists. While Indian wine drinkers often perceive Chilean wines as 'exotic' and 'adventurous,' my time in the country's vineyards revealed a compelling story rooted in terroir, sustainability, innovation, and unforgettable experiences.
My journey began with Viña Don Melchor, arguably Chile’s most iconic wine. Don Melchor’s vineyards span the Puente Alto appellation in Maipo Valley, planted primarily for Cabernet Sauvignon and small amounts of other Bordeaux varieties. The estate’s approach combines meticulous vineyard work with parcel-level understanding, wherein the vineyards are managed and harvested by micro plots to express variations of soil and aspect.
I sampled multiple parcel expressions with Enrique Tirado, the estate’s technical director and long-time steward of Don Melchor. It was an advanced masterclass in precision and personality! This experience underscored how each micro terrier contributes to the final blend. In fact, I even had the opportunity to create my own blend, revealing how thoughtful blending unlocks greater depth, balance, and harmony.
One of the most astonishing chapters of my trip took me into the Atacama Desert, widely regarded as the driest place on earth. Here, Ventisquero’s Tara project stands out as an extraordinary experiment in extreme terroir viticulture.
Located in the Huasco Valley, close to the Pacific Ocean, these vineyards experience fog in the mornings and cool maritime influence; its arid soils are rich in minerals and salinity. Tara's wines are produced in limited quantities and are defined by this distinctive saline character.
When I visited, I tasted the wines in a soil pit surrounded by the very layers of stone, sand, and clay that shaped the pits. It was a powerful reminder that Chilean winemakers do not merely speak about terroir but also actively explore, reveal, and celebrate it.
Next, my travels took me to the vineyards of Luis Felipe Edwards in the Colchagua Valley. The story of this family-owned winery began in the 1970s, and has since grown into one of Chile’s most widely exported wine producers.
Here, I tasted the estate’s most iconic wines, including Pater—dedicated to the founder Luis Felipe Edwards Senior—and Doña Bernarda, created in honour of his wife. Sourced from high altitude vineyards planted at around 900 metres above sea level, these wines are powerful, structured, and deeply expressive, reflecting both family legacy and the intensity of their mountain origins.
Tasting these wines among the vines backdropped by sweeping views across the valley reinforced how altitude, climate, and site selection play a defining role in shaping character and complexity.
One of the most poetic stops was Viña Montes’ project on Mechuque Island, off the Pacific coast. Here, vines are planted in an exposed maritime climate on just one hectare of land. These vines help produce only a few 100 bottles of sparkling wine.
The journey to reach these vineyards involved flights, long drives and a ferry crossing, a reminder that some of the most compelling wines come from the most unexpected places. As evening fell, we gathered around a bonfire on the island shore, sharing Montes wines with freshly grilled seafood as the sound of the ocean filled the air.
Long flights, time away from family and constant packing are part of a life spent chasing terroir. Yet this 18-day immersion into Chile’s wine world was far more than a professional visit; it was a powerful reminder of why wine remains one of the most meaningful bridges between land, culture and human creativity. I returned enriched, inspired, and eager to share these stories—because some experiences are simply too precious to be savoured alone.