Wines of Chile with Master of Wines Mark O'Bryen

Friday 9th March

The region has a long viticultural history for a New World wine region dating to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought Vitis vinifera vines with them as they colonized the region. In the mid-19th century, French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were introduced. In the early 1980s, a renaissance began with the introduction of stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of oak barrels for aging. Wine exports grew very quickly as quality wine production increased. The number of wineries has grown from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005. Chile is now the fifth largest exporter of wines in the world, and the ninth largest producer. The climate has been described as midway between that of California and France. The most common grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère. So far Chile has remained free of phylloxera louse which means that the country's grapevines do not need to be grafted.

Dinner commences at 7.30pm and the bar and lounge are available from 7pm.

Accommodation, appetizer and three course dinner, breakfast and all dinner wines, for two persons sharing:
 
Standard Room £198    Intermediate Room £210
Lake View Standard £230    Lake View Superior  £250

Non-resident spaces are very limited at £55 per person for the dinner