The Wines from Chile Harvest 2026

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As the Southern Hemisphere's autumn settles in, Chile is in the midst of its 2026 vendimia — the traditional grape harvest season that runs from February through May across the country's wine valleys. Early forecasts point to a vintage that combines higher yields, good grape quality, and the ongoing challenges of a changing climate.

According to the First Vintage Forecast Report 2026, prepared by the National Association of Agronomists and Oenologists (ANIAE) on behalf of ODEPA, the 2025–2026 growing season has been mostly favourable at the national level. The report, based on surveys of winegrowers and oenologists conducted in November 2025, indicates good conditions for both grape quality and production volume.

The season has been shaped by the La Niña weather pattern, which brought warmer-than-average temperatures and earlier phenological stages — meaning budbreak, flowering, and veraison all arrived ahead of schedule compared to the previous year. While water deficit remains a dominant concern across Chile's wine regions, localised frosts caused only minimal damage to vineyards.

One of the most significant headlines from the 2026 forecast is a projected 12% increase in national wine grape production. Several established valleys are reporting estimated gains of 10% to 30%, with greater variability observed in cooler, rainfed areas.

Perhaps most striking is the surge in Chile's emerging wine frontiers. Production in Chile Chico is expected to jump by up to 60%, while Chiloé and the Pica oasis — both at the geographical margins of Chilean viticulture — could see increases close to 100%, driven by new plantations entering production. These frontier regions, not yet formally recognized under Chile's wine appellation law (Decree Law 464), reflect the industry's southward and northward expansion as producers adapt to shifting climate conditions.

The overall health status of Chile's vineyards has been reported as good. Occasional cases of powdery mildew were noted in the Elqui and Claro valleys, while Margarodes vitis (a soil pest) was flagged in San Antonio and Casablanca. Minor issues with false red spider mite appeared in the Claro and Loncomilla valleys, and grapevine erinosis was recorded in the Cautín valley. Wild birds and rabbits caused some damage in the Codpa, Aconcagua, and Itata valleys — a reminder of the diverse pressures Chilean growers face.

Behind the optimism of the 2026 harvest lies a deeper structural shift. Chile's total planted vineyard area continues to decline, with grubbings linked to low productivity, wood diseases, and changes in production focus. At the same time, new plantings are concentrating in emerging southern regions, as producers seek cooler climates better suited to quality winemaking in a warming world.

The trend toward premium wines continues. Cabernet Sauvignon still dominates at 35% of national production, but varieties like Carménère — Chile's signature grape — and the ancestral País are drawing renewed attention. País, in particular, is experiencing a resurgence as its old, dry-farmed vines prove resilient to drought and climate stress, while its light-bodied style aligns with growing consumer interest in fresher, lower-alcohol reds.

The 2026 vendimia season is being celebrated with more than 40 harvest festivals spanning from Arica y Parinacota in the far north to La Araucanía in the south. Iconic events include the Colchagua Valley Harvest Festival in Santa Cruz (March 6–8), the historic Curicó Harvest Festival — the oldest in the country (March 20–22), the Casablanca Grape Harvest (April 11–12), and the Aconcagua Valley celebration (March 28). These festivals combine grape stomping, wine tastings, traditional cuisine, and live music, drawing both domestic and international visitors.

Chile's 2026 vintage is shaping up as a year of cautious optimism: higher production, promising quality, and a wine industry that continues to reinvent itself in the face of climate uncertainty. For importers, sommeliers, and wine lovers around the world, it is another chapter in the story of a country that has firmly established itself among the leading wine-producing nations on the global stage.

Sources: ANIAE / ODEPA First Vintage Forecast Report 2026; De Chile al Paladar; Chile Travel; The Drinks Business; Passion Vines; Vinetur