Chile is celebrating its second National Chilean Wine Day (#ChileWineDay) by attempted to break a world record! Over 2000 people will be lining up through the city of Santiago with glasses raised to form the longest cheers line ever, and raise a glass to the official ‘Dia del Vino Chileno’ on Sunday, September 4th.
Last year Chile’s President, Michelle Bachelet, signed an official statement inaugurating Chile’s first National Chilean Wine Day. Since then, every 4th September will be a special day to open a bottle of Chilean wine and celebrate the country’s heritage in winemaking and its many wines.
The 4th September was picked because 470 years ago, on 4th September 1545, Pedro de Valdivia (who was then the Governor of Chile) wrote to the Spanish King, Charles V, to ask for wines for mass in Chile. The link might be a bit tenuous but it seems as good as reason as any to celebrate Chile’s impressive wine production history which stretches half a millennia already.
Over the weekend there are free winetastings being held around the country in wineries in all the different valleys, but for those who aren’t in Chile – you can raise a glass and click with Chile virtually online as the break a World Guinness Record!
Happy #ChileWineDay and Salud!