The severe earthquake that devastated parts of Chile at the end of February has also severely affected the wine harvest. It is claimed more than a tenth of the 2009 vintage has been destroyed.

As reported by Chilean media, international news services as well as the Weinreporter, the earthquake on 27 February damaged or destroyed numerous tanks, barrels and bottles of wine. The Chilean wine industry claims losses are in the range of 125 million litres of wine. Total damages are estimated at a minimum of 250 million US dollars (around 183 million Euros).

Many major wineries have reported burst stainless steel tanks or barriques, the Miguel Torres Chile winery claims the contents of 300 barrels and a 100.000-litre tank were lost. The damages particularly affected the current 2009 vintage, much of which is still in the cellars of the wineries, with claims by the industry association Vinos de Chile that around 12.9 per cent of the vintage was destroyed. (WF)