Less than a decade ago, choosing a bottle of wine in Costa Rica was neither exciting nor satisfying; the quality was disappointing, the choice minimal and it could even end with the throwing of the beverage down the drain.

Some supermarkets offered an unexciting choice of Chilean and Argentinian wines that were just about drinkable while the European and US choice was more often than not an expensive mistake. In 2006, due to a rising demand, the wine industry saw a rapid growth of 30%: While the Chilean and Argentinian improved dramatically, the wine buffs of Costa Rica started to enjoy excellent vintage from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, together with an awesome variety of labels, grapes, wineries, at a wide price range. There are now more distributors and retails outlets that supply restaurants, hotels and supermarkets also selling to individuals who wish to start building their cellars. Then last year saw another 15% rise in the consumption of wine, and this placed Costa Rica amongst the more serious wine drinking countries. The quality of Chilean wines can be outstanding, and this for a very good reason! Indeed many Chilean and Argentinian wines are pre-Phylloxera; that was a European blight that occurred around 1850, and that means that these South American wines have the true and intended taste of the vineyard as they reached the New World prior to the spread of the disease in France! This disease was so powerful and caused so much damage that eventually the French had to graft the vines onto North American rootstocks in order to produce anything drinkable!

Apart from the South American Wines, the South African Two Oceans has grown particularly popular; the Pinotage and Shiraz are certainly above average and are offered at a very reasonable price; at $10 a bottle, this is indeed a very good deal!
As time goes by, more and more Costa Ricans are learning to appreciate the favorite drink of the Gods. As the wine connoisseur community grows, the local buyers are willing to spend more money. In addition there are now special schools giving sommelier classes in this country! In 2009, the Argentinian School of Sommeliers set up a branch at the Politécnico Internacional in San José and it was such a success that the Universidad Latina also began a sommelier course the following year. The graduates find a great demand for such jobs in high end hotels, restaurants, and bars.

Wine Conference

The ExpoVino 2011 turned out to be a flamboyant success on its third year. It was set in the beautiful Intercontinental Hotel in Escazu and the vast choice of wine available today in Costa Rica was fully appreciated. Over two hundred wineries were showcased, from Malbecs to Terriors, passing through Shiraz and Carmenieres to name just a few. Costa Ricans who developed a taste for wine could only choose between Chilean and Argentinian until recently; as the local population becomes more educated about wine, the suppliers increase their supply. We saw wines from France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United States, and Uruguay. Most particularly there was the new comer of 2011: Israel’s participation was a joint venture with the Israeli Embassy in Costa Rica, and it is hoping to start selling their products in Costa Rica, as it is already well established in the US and other Latin American countries.

One of the main goals of the ExpoVino is to give the exhibiting companies the opportunity to interact with other promoters and agents from various wine companies and widen their knowledge, to participate in the development of the wine culture, to be able to advise and even educate their customers, and to open new markets. The degustation of wine in ExpoVino brings the ideal opportunity to interact with others of similar interest, to compare and sample a wider selection of wines, thus an excellent starting point for the development of negotiations; as the participants learn about wines from different regions they are also able to exchange ideas and points of views with others. They can be in immediate and direct contact with the suppliers and importers of fine wine, and can take advantage of special offers while learning to differentiate between the wines and to define their personal tastes. The ExpoVino went further, and cheeses from various countries were offered as a complement to the wines. This year the guests could sample novelties such as wine flavored ice cream!

International Tastes Arriving

There is no doubt the waves of foreigners from Europe and the US who come to visit or settle in Costa Rica have brought their taste for wine with them thus helped wine grow in Costa Rica, until it gradually becomes of way of life and an every day treat. Supermarkets like Automercado and Mas Por Menos offer increasing wider choice, and small wine shops like Vinum and French Paradox in Escazu prove that customers are prepared to spend more for a good bottle. According to Jorge Granados, of Jorgan Importers, the consumers are savvier than ever before in Costa Rica; they attend courses, make research online and read magazines. Granados, one of the 120 vendors who paid $1500 for its booth at ExpoVino, explained how he took great care in educating the consumers, showing them how to differentiate labels and what they mean as well as the features of each bottle. To Ericka Sibaja, the information manager at distributor Alpiste S.A., this is a unique opportunity to present to the public wines that they would otherwise only find in restaurants. As people get to know more about wine, they begin to explore and buy wines that are new to them. It is all about teaching a country a new culture that has been alive for thousands of years in Europe. While it is impossible to jump over centuries, what is taking place in Costa Rica, a country that only sold wine in boxes less than two decades ago, proves that a good product can be successfully introduced almost anywhere.

After a long working day, it is time to relax and reflect on our achievements, our dreams and on what there is still to be done. While the sun comes down and the scarlet sky embellishes your horizon, uncork a bottle and serve yourself a glass of wine. There are no better ways to enjoy a quiet evening or to share it with friends, and it is the best complement to your food. Enjoy, relax, take a break, this is after all a gift from our mother, the blood of planet Earth!

*The Costa Rica Star will have ongoing coverage of the wine industry here in Costa Rica. If you are an importer, store owner, venue owner, or have an interest in wine do not hesitate to contact us with your press release or information about your business. We will be organizing wine tastings and related events around the San Jose Valley and you are welcome to take part in this. After all, wine is meant to be social and bring people together.