THE world's fifth largest wine producer is slowly but surely making the presence of her wines felt in Malaysia. She is already giving the other wine nations some stiff competition. Santa Ines director Luis Enrique and winemaker Jaime Munoz recently hosted a dinner at the Chalet restaurant in Equatorial hotel to promote their wines. The Chilean ambassador to Malaysia, Roberto Ibarra was among the guests.

The Santa Ines vineyard - 300 acres of it in a single plot - is a 100% family owned and managed winery in the Maipo Valley, an hour's drive from Santiago, capital of Chile. The company is still owned by the Italian family, Famiglia De Martino, who settled in Chile about 60 years ago.

Enrique says, "our philosophy is to be a boutique winery producing the best wines we can possibly make and this implies a permanent concern about quality controls."

The task of ensuring that Santa Ines produces premium, high-class wines that are appreciated by wine drinkers

the world over lies with Munoz, a youthful

 winemaker. He studied agronomy and oenology in Chile and conducted studies on several wineries in Chile, France, Argentina, Spain and China before joining Santa Ines.

The vineyard presented five award-winning wines at the dinner that evening, which started with cold canapes and a pleasant but rather predictable and young Sauvignon Blanc.

The dinner commenced in earnest with a dish with several clashing tastes - salmon, mushroom and Parmesan. However, it all came together and was well complimented by a mature chardonnay.

The five-course dinner, specially prepared by the Chalet's chef Wolfgang Kiesel, was skillfully matched with the Santa Ines wines. Of the dishes, the seafood veloute in a scooped-out roll and the herb-crushed venison, were particularly interesting.

Santa Ines Legado de Armida Reserve Chardonnay 1997 was creamy with a nice balance between oak and fruit. The palate was well-rounded, fat and with a refreshing finish. It was a great opportunity to sample an aged Chadornnay and appreciate its lasting qualities.

Of the reds, the Limited Edition Syrah exhibition

more pleasant qualities than the Reserve Pinot Noir. The Santa Ines Limited edition Legado de Armida Syrah 2001 had a concentrated aroma and was fruity on the nose. It showed a good balance between fruit and oak on the palate.

It was with great anticipation that desert arrived and a chance to sample the much-heralded Santa Ines Late Harvest Sauvignon/Semillon 1998 which had been recognised at last year's KL Winex Challenge.

Sadly, neither the dessert nor the wine impressed. Perhaps it was a rather uninspiring poached pear that failed to lift the wine. However, the wine is keenly priced at RM35 per bottle and should be given another change with richer and creamier dessert.

There is little doubt after that evening  that Santa Ines Wines will be seen more frequently on Malaysian tables in the coming years.

Santa Ines wines is distributed by Westport Intertrade Sdn Bhd.