Recently I participated in a webinar with Chilean wine journalist Joaquin Hidalgo to learn about the famous Humboldt Current that sweeps up the Pacific coast of Chile . Those who study wine (like me) know what it is, but does anyone else know? And why does it even matter? What does it bring to your wine glass? Intrigued? Keep reading – and try a fun taste-test, described at the end.

As Hidalgo described it, the Humboldt Current is “a massive, 600-mile-wide ocean current of very cold waters that flows north along Chile, from the Antarctic.” There you have it, right? But what does it do? Well, it moves north 17 miles a day, keeping the coastal waters and nearby land much cooler than it would otherwise be. And we all know that grapevines love a cool climate.

Because of the Humboldt Current, vineyards throughout Chile share climate conditions with France’s Burgundy region and California’s Central Coast (think Santa Rita Hills, Santa Maria Valley, Paso Robles). This means that Chilean Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes ripen slowly, developing sharp acidity that results in excellent wines. Bonus: because Chile is the shape of a string bean, vineyards in practically the whole country benefit from the Humboldt current.

I received a cool “book” of 187ml bottles of Chilean Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to taste, and they were uniformly delicious – and affordable! And you know how much I love affordalicious wines! Check these out:

Viña Montes Montes “Alpha” 2022 Chardonnay $24 – This beauty from Aconcagua Costa bursts out of the glass with green apples, bananas in brown butter, vanilla – all in excellent balance. Kind of a perfect Chardonnay.

Viña Santa Rita “Florista” 2021 Chardonnay $20 – This Chard from the Limari Valley (17 miles from the Pacific Ocean) has aromas of toasted bread with vanilla paste, and a soft texture, and on the palate I got orchard fruits like pears, peaches and a teensy bit of mineralogy – like river stones.

Miguel Torres Cordillera de los Andes 2023 Chardonnay $20 My favorite, for the hint of lime I detected hiding among a jumble of subtle floral and tropical fruit notes, and a subtle saline finish. Super interesting and fun to drink!

TerraNoble “Algarrobo”2023 Pinot Noir $15 Hailing from the cool Casablanca Valley, this wine, while maybe a little lean (or maybe just a little young), is juicy with the signature sour cherries and fresh earth of a great pinot noir.

Viña Concha y Toro “Amelia” 2022 Pinot Noir $55 From the Limari Valley, this is a bit of a splurge and worth it. The wine is a little more intense, sporting dense dark cherry notes and a kiss of black tea. I loved this one.

Garces Silva “Boya” 2020 Pinot Noir $20 From Leda – San Antonio, just 8 miles from the Pacific, this one was both more floral and little “dirtier” tasting in a good way! Fresh earth is a hallmark of Pinot Noir, and it contrasts so nicely with the cherry/strawberry notes, making it so great with earthy foods like mushrooms, grilled vegetables, barbecue and more.

And that is what the Humboldt Current is.

Here’s a fun side-by-side taste test you can try: Get a Chilean Chard or Pinot Noir (maybe one of the ones cited above) and get a warmer climate Chard or Pinot Noir – from, like, California’s Lodi Valley, or Argentina – and taste them side-by-side, to note the differences in the aromatics, textures, and flavors. Your wine shop person can help you pick. I’m going to do it this weekend with friends. Cheers, everyone!