When shopping for Chilean wines, relish the reds. Yes, their whites are fine, but I have two words: Cabernet Sauvignon. And another two words: cheap and yum. Look for Maipo and Rapel Valleys printed on the label, and expect to pull out only a fiver and a ten for fantastic wines. These appellations benefit from plenty of sun, so most of the grapes yield big, fruity wines. An up-and-comer in Chile is the Syrah grape, as well as a fun but underrated one called Carmenere [CAR min YARE].
In the kindergarten line of wine reputations, Argentina loiters near the back. For years, they churned out barrels of insipid wine destined almost exclusively for internal consumption, not realizing that, if they improved quality, the rest of the world might buy their wares. So they wised up and introduced their secret weapon: Malbec [MAHL-beck]. In the early 90s, consumers knew this Bordeaux-original, but didn't know it flourished in the Mendoza region in Argentina. Voila... an industry was born. Similar to Cabernet, this versatile grape creates hardy or fruity wines, so it spans the spectrum of tastes.
But South Africa is definitely the ugly kid at the back of the line. Until very recently, wine writers groaned when they heard about South African wines, dreading intensely flavored plunk. But, with the help of the South African government and a dash of clever marketing, they're moving up the line. Stellenbosch, an appellation on the southern coast, is still too in flux to have a particular expertise for a variety, but try its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, which are pretty reliable, and especially good values. If you're dabbling in Pinotage, South Africa's homegrown grape of funk, look for Paarl or Western Cape on the label.
RECOMMENDED WINES
Tierra Salvaje 2001 Malbec Mendoza Big, huge wine with leather smells and lingering hearty cherry. Let this one air a while before you drink it. Kosher too. $9. 1/2
Santa Ema 2000 Carmenere Rapel Valley Full of personality, with perky dried cherry, and a dash of black pepper. It's got so much fun going on, you want to drink it with a burger at tailgate. $10.
Casa Lapostolle 2001 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Rapel Valley You might call this one rustic, since it's a little creaky with tannins and needs food to grease it up to its full bodied potential. Loaded with big, dark blackberry flavors, and plenty of face-slappin' punch. For the quality you're getting, this is a damn good deal. $14.
Neil Ellis 2001 Cabernet Merlot Stellenbosch Silky smooth fruit mixed with elegant tannins. If a wine was ever lovely, this one is it. Amazing value. $16.