An exclusive gourmet experience event brought together journalists, opinion leaders, and industry professionals to explore Chilean wines, pisco, seafood, and culinary traditions.

New York, October 23rd / PRNewswire / -- The Export Promotion Agency under the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ProChile, hosted media, opinion leaders, and industry professionals in New York City on October 20th, giving them a special opportunity to experience Chile's food and beverage culture. Through a carefully planned Chilean lunch and a master class on wine and pisco, the guests learned about the unique flavors of this country, from the traditional grape varieties and distinctive terroirs of the Itata Valley in Chile to the characteristics and traditions of Chilean pisco. Pisco is a iconic liquor made from grapes in Chile. The event also allowed guests to get to know the people and stories behind these products.

The lunch menu was designed by Ignacia Vald, who has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens in Paris and New York. Vald, inspired by her Chilean background, featured ingredients such as caviar, seaweed, cochayuyo, merk chili seasonings, salmon, mussels, and lú cuma, introducing Chilean flavors to guests from a contemporary culinary perspective.

The afternoon wine and pisco master class was led by Jonathan Charnay. He is a Chilean sommelier and also a partner of Nuyores. He has previously served as the beverage director at the three-star Michelin-rated restaurant Masa. Andrea Mart and nez Sandoval also participated in the event; they are both Chilean sommeliers and currently oversee the wine procurement for Astoria Wines & Spirits as well as Underground Wines & Spirits. Charnay introduced a series of Chilean wines from the Itata Valley, while Mart nez Sandoval explained about Chilean pisco, its origins, styles, and production traditions.

"Connecting Chilean products with the media and industry professionals who influence the way consumers discover food and beverages is an important part of our work in the US market. This experience has allowed us to share the diversity of Chilean products, celebrate the people and traditions behind them, and build relationships that can bring Chilean products to a wider audience," said Andrea Sapag, the Trade Commissioner of Chile in New York.

Explore Chile's wine, pisco, and culinary traditions

Wine: Diversity, Quality, and Sustainability

Chile's wine regions stretch over more than 1,500 kilometers, ranging from high-altitude vineyards to coastal areas. Approximately 350 wineries export to 140 markets around the world, offering a wide range of products including premium wines, small-batch wines, organic wines, biodynamic wines, and natural wines.

Sustainability is an important differentiating advantage for Chilean wine. 92 wineries have obtained certification under Chile's national sustainability standards, accounting for 80% of the export of bottled wine. The Itata Valley also reflects Chile's rich grape cultivation traditions, with a winemaking history of over four centuries. Moreover, there has been a renewed interest in varieties such as Pa, Cinsault, and Carignan.

Pisco: Heritage and Diversity

Pisco from Chile is mainly produced in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions and boasts the oldest appellation of origin in the Americas. Its clear and aged flavor makes it suitable for both straight drinking and cocktail mixing, presenting opportunities for bars, restaurants, and retail channels.

In 2025, the export value of Pisco from Chile reached 3.9 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 27.6%, with products being sent to 40 markets and serving over 110 international buyers.

Seafood: Quality from the Pacific Ocean

Chile's Pacific coastline has given rise to a rich variety of seafood products, including salmon, mussels, southern cod, horse mackerel, and caviar from farmed sturgeon. This industry serves both the retail and catering markets, and is supported by standards for food safety and sustainability.

In 2025, Chile's total seafood exports amounted to 2.918 billion US dollars, accounting for 31.7% of the total shipments, making Chile an important destination for seafood exports.

By bringing together media and industry professionals around Chilean cuisine, wine, and pisco, ProChile continues to enhance the international recognition of Chilean food and beverage products and strengthens its connections with key audiences in the US market.

About ProChile

ProChile is an export promotion agency under the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through its network of offices both within Chile and abroad, the agency supports Chilean companies in entering international markets and promotes Chile as a reliable, innovative, and sustainable supplier of goods and services.

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