Given the effect of the recent earthquake on Chile’s wine regions, Wines of Chile UK has set up an account to receive funds to help those that have been affected.

UK director of the generic body, Michael Cox, confirmed earlier this week that work on the vintage had started in some places, and that the main ports of Valparaiso and San Antonio had returned to full operation, albeit with some backlog.

Initial reports following the quake suggested that there was damage in the southern wine areas closest to the epicentre, such as Cauquenes, Bío Bío, and other parts of Maule, and Curicó. Following this earthquake on 27 February, with a magnitude of 8.8, another quake struck the country on 11 March, this one measuring 7.2.

Earlier in the week, Cox commented: ‘I have received many messages from friends and colleagues in Chile and I have been struck by their general sense of calm, pragmatism, and resilience. Above all else, their primary concerns have been for their families and their working colleagues. The pride they share in their country and its ability to rise above adversity is palpable and admirable. Chile’s ever improving wines will convey that pride around the world”.

There has been support from throughout the UK wine trade. UK agent Laithwaites pledged to donate 5% of sales of Chilean wines during March to the Chilean Ambassador’s Earthquake Appeal Fund. Tony Laithwaite said: ‘Several of our Chilean wine producers – really good friends who we’ve been working with for years – have been hit hard by the recent earthquake. We’ve managed to contact most of them this week and they’ve told us that the damage to the wineries is, on the whole, not too severe. But with so much precious wine lost, many are concerned that trade might drop away with customers hanging back.’

Funds donated to the Wines of Chile UK bank account will be channelled towards organisations in the country’s wine regions, and will most likely work with Levantado Chile, a fund set up to support non-profit Chilean organisations helping local communities. The details of the account are:

Account name: Wines Of Chile Earthquake Appeal
Barclays Bank
Sorting code: 20-74-09
Account no: 63514986

News item from Imbibe.com, 12-03-2010