I've been looking out for Chilean wine for some time, ever since a Chilean friend told that because of the earthquake earlier this year, wineries had to pour out wine (in addition to losing wine from damaged barrels and bottles) because of various legal requirements about food storage, export, and then of course, insurance. Chile has a robust, vibrant tradition of wine production. Vinas Chilenas Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is one of those bottled wines that are exclusively available at Trader Joe's. There's a note in the fine print that makes reference to the American Beverage Group, in California. The grapes were grown in Chile's Valle Centrale, or "central valley," the most important wine region, located right across from Argentina's most important wine region. It looks to me like the wines are actually produced and bottled for Trader Joe's by Videma S. A.

Vinas Chilenas Trader Joe's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is a light gold in color, with a floral, faintly citrus aroma. In flavor, this Sauvignon blanc is delightfully dry, more like a tart apple than a sweet apple or pear, and with a lovely acidic citrus note. This is very much that "crisp" taste that Sauvignon Blanc is supposed to have. It reminds me very much of the Washington Barnard Griffin Fumé Blanc. I picked up this bottle of 13% ABV Chilean Savignon Blanc for $3.99 at Trader Joe's in Washington; I'm told it's $2.99 in California. It's a wonderful summer wine, and this is the perfect time of year for it. We'll be going back for more. I'm not the only fan, either; see the Underground Wine Newsletter.