Chile Changes the Rules

While I'm often disappointed at this scenario, too, I've also attended enough winemaker's dinners to know that public speaking is not everybody's glass of wine, including winemakers'.

With a new dinner season about to begin, owners, public relations types and marketing people might want to rethink the winemaker's dinner concept and morph it into a "most-interesting-speaker-at-the-winery" dinner. That way we can all enjoy ourselves.

Such an initiative is happening Sept. 28 here in Vancouver. In a dramatic step outside the box (Playhouse organizers take note), "The Wines of Chile" has reinvented a tired tasting format. In all, 14 local restaurants, each featuring the wines of two or three wineries and an equal number of interesting Chilean wine types, will offer a family-style, Chilean-themed dinner that should be a lot of fun.

Consumers can choose between 14 participating restaurants and still attend a pre-dinner, reception-style tasting at the Sutton Place Hotel with all 30 Chilean producers involved in the evening.

The reception/tasting begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs for about 90 minutes. Following the reception, you will be taken to your chosen restaurant for dinner. The list includes: Aqua Riva (Carmen & Cono Sur), Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar (Botalcura & Vina Quintay), Chambar (Chocalán & Luis Felipe Edwards), CinCin (Undurraga& Viu Manent), Coast Restaurant (Agustinos, Miguel Torres & Ventisquero), Cobre Nuevo Latino (Concha y Toro & Vina Maipo), Diva @ The Met (Cousiño Macul & Emiliana), Elixir Bistro 9 (Nativa & Santa Carolina), Goldfish Pacific Kitchen (Santa Alicia & Veramonte), Joey's (Caliterra, Errazuriz & Seña), O'Doul's Restaurant and Bar (Santa Rita & Terra Andina), The Shore Club (Anakena & Matetic), Terminal City (Casa Tamaya, Morandé), La Terrazza Restaurant (MontGras &Tarapaca). Meal pricing runs from $89 to $129 per person and includes the wine reception, transportation to the restaurant and the dinner of your choice. Now that is value.

Chile has much to offer, be it red or white, and a food and wine event such as this will do more than any tasting to better convince each participant that the game is on in Chile. Here is a short list of six labels to get you ready to think Chile any time.

The Adobe Chardonnay Reserva Orgánico 2008 comes in a crisp, elegant style with a touch of sweet fruit yet all balanced. Bits of peach skin, green apple, baked pear, grapefruit and grassy, melon flavours make it easy to like.

Another fresh new wave white is the Carmen Reserva Chardonnay 2007 also from Casablanca. We like the mineral, vanilla, creamy lime and melon fruit that finishes with bits of nectarine, honey and quince. The finish is a touch nutty with a grapefruit rind note.

The Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2008 comes with a bit of heft and spice. The plate is fresh and bright with big citrus, leafy notes mixed with sweetish cran-cherry flavours. A fun patio sipper you can pour it all fall at a slightly warmer temperature with a variety of charcuterie and cheese.

Be sure to check out the Chono Reserva Syrah 2007 from the Elqui Valley a rich, round, dry and supple red in a full bodied style. There is plenty of smoky, meaty, garrigue notes flecked with resin, licorice, black cherry jam and vanilla, coffee and herb flavours.

A soft, silky, cedar-y blend of Maipo minty/bay leaf and black fruits marks the nose of the Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 120 2007 from Valle del Rapel. Look for bits of earthy mushrooms and spice in the back end of this easy to drink red. A touch of French oak rounds out the palate.

The Viu Manent Reserva Carmenère 2006, from the Valle del Colchagua, comes from near the town of Perallilo in the Colchagua Valley where the vineyard is about 16 years old. All of the wine is aged in wood and most of it is French oak. The textures are suave and supple with that espresso, chocolate, cigarette ash nose and dark chocolate dried herbs plummy fruit flavours. Surprisingly lush.

For ticket information to Chile's big night out: www.ccltd.ca/winesofchile

Price: $15

UPC: 7804320150628

Score: 86/100

Remarks: Simple but elegant and fresh with good textures.

CARMEN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2007, VALLE DE CASABLANCA, REGION DE ACONCAGUA, CHILE

Price: $17

UPC: 083300097666

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Solid intensity and balance for the money; try with halibut or squid.

MIGUEL TORRES SANTA DIGNA CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSE 2008, VALLE DEL CURICO, CHILE

Price: $14

UPC: 08410113005366

Score: 87/100

Remarks: Serve with a variety of charcuterie.

CHONO RESERVA SYRAH 2007, ELQUI VALLEY, CHILE

Price: $18

UPC: 07804606220229

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Licorice, black cherry jam flavours. Good value here.

SANTA RITA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 120 2007, VALLE DEL RAPEL, CHILE

Price: $12

UPC: 089419007114

Score: 87/100

Remarks: Serve with barbecued meats or hard cheese. Crazy value.

VIU MANENT RESERVA CARMENERE 2007, VALLE DEL COLCHAGUA, VALLE DEL RAPEL, CHILE

Price: $20

UPC: 07804314935064

Score: 88/100