Spotlight: Carolina Vasquez, Trade Commissioner ProChile India

A friendly demeanour, a deep composure and a personality that could give a run for money to showbiz models, these are a few words that come to my mind while describing Carolina Vasquez, Trade Commissioner ProChile, at the Embassy of Chile in New Delhi. As I met Carolina in her office recently, we ended up discussing much more than just the agenda i.e. wine, and that afforded me to acquaint with her both as a professional and as an individual.

Carolina arrived in India on her present assignment in May 2015 amid a positive business atmosphere where the new Government had already initiated a slew of measures for simplifying trade. 

Having been to the country thrice earlier on official trips (a visit to the Taj Mahal already accomplished), India is not new to her, but this time there is a lot to discover, courtesy her ongoing stint as the Trade Commissioner.

About ProChile

ProChile is the institution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile in charge of promoting exports of products and services. Its primary responsibilities are dissemination of foreign investment opportunities and tourism promotion. With a network of over 50 offices worldwide it aims to boost Chile's export sector and position the country in international markets.

Here's getting upfront with Carolina Vasquez (CV), starting with turning the Spotlight on her :

Me: A few words about yourself .

CV: I am from Santiago, the capital of Chile and have lived throughout in the same city.  I am a Commercial Engineer and  an MBA.  

Me: Considering the trade between India and Chile,which are the key sectors on both sides?

CV: The key sector for Chile is mainly copper which represents a little over 90 % of our exports to India. However we are working to diversify the exportable offer to India as wines , fresh fruits, nuts, and seafood . It is noteworthy to mention that  around 27 Chilean vineyards are already selling their products in India. Given the positive forecasts for wine trade in India, we would like to expand this presence.

As for Indian exports to Chile, the key sectors are automobiles and pharma, but clearly our country offers more space for Indian products such as textiles and handicrafts. 

Me: Chile being one of the major wine producers of the new world how would you plan to promote your wines to compete against other new world biggies like  Australia and the USA?

CV: We believe that before considering what actions to take with reference to "competition” it is more important that we generate a recognition of  Brand Chile and the products from our country. It is precisely why we are working on market awareness programs like “Foods From Chile”, of which wine forms an important part. 

We also believe that it is vital to generate a plan with Indian consumers who are recognised more as whisky drinkers- wine being a relatively new product for them. Additionally, the Embassy is working together with our Commercial office for possible visits by relevant authorities from our country with the aim of developing promotional activities around these visits.

Me: India is a major market for Spirits ( 5th largest importer). Are there any Chilean Spirits (like Pisco) currently in the Indian market? How would you like to tap this lucrative market?

CV: Presently Chilean Pisco is not present in the Indian market. However, Chilean companies are very much interested to explore the Indian spirits market and I agree that a lucrative opportunity exists in this segment. We would do everything within our means to support Chilean producers for getting access to the Indian spirits market.

Me: Any thoughts for promoting wine tourism in Chile?  Especially considering the heightened interest of wine lovers and professionals from this region in visiting vineyards across the world. 

CV: Turismo Chile is the office responsible for promoting tourism in our country. They are working hard in promoting wine tourism in Chile where many Chilean wineries offer a number of activities and options like one day wine tour,  massage therapies with wine etc. The offers in our country are very diverse in this area. There is a whole section dedicated to these activities in the official website of  Turismo Chile : http://chile.travel/que-hacer/vinos-y-comida/rutas-del-vino/

Me: Are Visa arrangements between India and Chile simple enough? How long does it take for an Indian to be granted a Chilean tourist Visa? 

CV: The Chilean government has simplified the Visa application process significantly. One can now register for a Chilean Visa online by going through the link https://tramites.minrel.gov.cl. Approval of Visa application could take up to 15 working days from date of on-line registration.  Once the Visa application is approved, the applicant has 90 days to make the payment and withdraw his passport. After Visa issue , the applicant has 90 days to enter the national territory of Chile. 

For applicants from outside the National Capital Region of Delhi who are unable to visit the embassy personally, they can authorize a third party to represent them by presenting the original letter of authorization / power of attorney duly notarized, for collecting the documents.

Me: If you may like to share, what are your engagements outside the professional space in India?

CV: I have a small family in India with my husband and our two cats who traveled with us from Chile. We are rather simple people who like the simple pleasures of life such as enjoying a movie or listening to music with a glass of wine. We chat and laugh a lot all the time , sometimes we go out to Delhi on a motorcycle. My husband is a Computer Engineer, two very different streams that keeps monotony at bay. It also affords us to have completely different perceptions on various subjects, making it stimulating to exchange views wherein a simple conversation can be transformed into a debate of ideas, which I think is a wonderful thing.

Me: One thing each, that you like and dislike about India.

CV: What I like about India is the large number of spices that can be found easily.  The flavors I can find here are very different than those I  have come across earlier. Since I like to cook, it is a subject that captivates me. Therefore I love going to the market for the spices and spend hours touring each of the shops enjoying each one of them at leisure.

What I do not like in India or perhaps in Delhi are the noisy streets with lot many horns blaring. But the positive aspect is that the scenario has improved a lot from the last time I was here. 

Me: According to you, Which is the most common aspect between Chile and India?

CV: The love for  food

Me: And the most different aspect? 

CV: The climate :)

Partaking of a Chilean Wine Dream

 Venue: The Lalit, New Delhi

 For several years  now, the Chilean embassy in New Delhi has been hosting a reception for wine and food lovers that sees good attendance from a diverse section of denizens of the Indian capital, at just the right time of the year when you neither sweat in a jacket nor shiver without one. This was my first year  at the do, and it had me really impressed with the exquisite collection of wines and gourmet spread that conveyed the essence of the country fittingly. It was also an opportunity  of privilege to meet the newly arrived Ambassador of the country H. E. Andres Babre Gonzales and  Trade Commissioner Nestor Riveros , who has been the driving force over the years to popularize Chilean culture in India.

Being an early bird at The Lalit, Barakhamba Road where the event was held  , I had a good opportunity to take photos of  the place at leisure and meet my friends from the wine industry who had put up their wines for tasting. In an event of this kind, it is a tough proposition to sample everything on offer,  hence the most effective way is to shortlist the 'must try' items on agenda- which again is facilitated by arriving early. I decided to pursue the wines, with food being an indulgent factor as an  aftermath.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words (a megabyte in  the digital age); and the focus here being the event itself, it would be best to let the pictures  do the talking. However, some  facts  on Chile with reference to its wines would definitely not be out of place:



H. E. Andres Babre Gonzales (R) and  Nestor Riveros (L)

Dapper and raring to uncork: Sarang Kumar of Prestige Wines and Spirits Pvt Ltd

• Chile has the distinct advantage of having mountains, ocean, forest and desert surrounding its different directions and hence, produces varied styles of wines. The largest and the oldest wine producing region of the country is the Central Valley  comprising of Maipo, Rapel (incl Cochapoal and Colchagua), Curicó and Maule), but other regions too (see map), have come up progressively in the preceding decades.

• Though Chile has a wine history dating back to 16^th century, it is counted amongst the new world wine producing nations due to its wines really coming to world’s attention in the last one century. Moreover, it gives prominence to   cépage (grape varietals) rather than terroir (region), which is typical to the new world wine production philosophy.

• Owing to its  geographic location, Chile was spared the scourge of the deadly  pest Phylloxera, that wiped out  large swathes of vineyards across Europe, meaning that it still produces a lot of wine from original ungrafted vine rootstocks, which makes them quite unique.

• Chile is the world's eighth largest producer and fifth largest exporter of wine. It exports 70 percent of its overall production , making it one of the most export-oriented wine producing countries.

• The grape varietals typical to Chile are
  Carménère  and País both of which are red . Whereas Carménère  is a thick skinned varietal that produces deep coloured and full bodied wines, País is one of the oldest Chilean varietals that produces lighter bodied and flavourful wines.

• Main grapes cultivated in Chile in the present day are mostly the international varietals with Cabernet blends ruling the roost, and Merlot aplenty. Due to investments by major producers from Spain, France and the USA , the ambit over the period has spread to other varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Viognier and Malbec as well. The Spanish wine giant Miguel Torres (see my earlier post Torres, Tapas and Toro) has had a large role to play in Chile for developing the wine  industry. 

• As compared to equivalent wines from elsewhere, Chilean wines are priced  highly competitively (as you would see from the average prices given with the wines listed below). Most of them have fruit orientation and less of ageing potential. However, with increased use of oak, there are some age worthy wines too.

Coming to the pictorial:

Brand: Miguel Torres Chile

Region: Central Valley, Limari Valley

Importer: Prestige Wines and Spirits Pvt Ltd

Wines:
Santa Digna Estelado (Sparkling Rosé) Santa Digna(Cabernet Sauvignon). , Hemisferio (Sauvignon Blanc),  Hemisferio (Cabernet Sauvignon) , Cordillera (Chardonnay), San Medin (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Price Range: ₹ 1290 - 3000

My favourites:

Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon (₹ 2900)- Big bold and flavourful with rounded tannins and a solid backbone.

Santa Digna Estelado (₹ 2950): An energetic and fruity Rosé Sparkling - the only one in the world made  from  Chile's indigenous and one of the oldest País grape varietal.

Brand: Balduzzi

Region: Central Valley (Maule)

Importer: Natures Bounty Wines

Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva and Merlot Reserva

Price Range:  ₹ 1450 each 

My favourite:

Balduzzi Merlot Reserva (₹ 1450 : Deep ruby with an explosively fruity nose. Full bodied on the palate with flavours of wild berries rounded tannins and a long finish.

Brand: Anakena

Region: Central Valley (Rapel)

Importer: High Spirits

Wines: Sauvignon Blanc,  Syrah Rose, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Price Range:  ₹ 1320 - 1850

My favourite:

Anakena Chardonnay ( ₹ 1530 )- Light lemon colour and aromas of tropical fruits with a light, minerally palate of ripe fruity flavours.

Brand: Emiliana

Region: Central Valley, Casa Blanca Valley

Importer: Hema Connoisseur Collections Pvt Ltd

Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Price Range: ₹ 1400 each

My favourite:

Emiliana Sauvignon Blanc (₹ 1400 ) - Pale lemon with green tints, citrus and tree fruit aromas, complex on the palate.

Brand: Montes Alpha

Regions: Central Valley , Casa Blanca Valley

Importer: Brindco

Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Price Range: ₹ 1330-1470

My favourite:

Montes Merlot (₹ 1410) A well structured and rounded wine with ripe red fruit aromas and a voluptuous body.

Brand: Cono Sur

Region: Central Valley 

Importer: Sula Selections

Wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Price Range: ₹ 1000-1960

My favourite:

Cono Sur Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (₹ 1960)- Firm as steel wine with black currant, dried fruits aromas , silky tannins and a refined palate.

Brand: Valdivieso

Region: Central Valley 

Importer: Agnetta International

Wines: Single Vineyard Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Blanc de Blanc, Brut Sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc

Price Range:  ₹ 1500-3060

My favourite:

 Valdivieso Pinot Noir (₹ 2850) A fresh and juicy wine with vegetal and red fruit aromas.

The venue with guests just starting to  pour in

Roasted Chicken Canapes

Goat Cheese Tart with Caramelized Onion and Cheese Quiche



Smoked Salmon Rosette with Caper and Horseradish

Meeting celebrity wine connoisseurs:  with Jug and Bunny Suraiya