Showing support for Chilean wines

It's almost like spring in western Colorado and to me nothing says spring more than enjoying a chilled sauvignon blanc on the outside patio.

We may be jumping the calendar a bit, but this week's Wine of the Week is the Santa Rita 2008 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc ($11.99, purchased).

The wine is pale gold in color and has terrific acidity, making it a great food wine. There's plenty of fresh apricots and peach flavors along with citrus, mostly grapefruit, adding to the wine's drinkability as a fine conversation starter.

Vina Santa Rita was hard-hit by Satuday's earthquake and lost an estimated 8 million liters of wine, 1 million of which was premium wine destined for its 120 brand or higher, according to export director Salvador Domenech.

The white-wine harvest was just starting in northern vineyards and many wineries had already shipped much of their white wines.

Still, with roads out and communications still struggling, it's a question of how the Chilean wine industry wil be affected. Don't be surprised to see higher prices, at least in the near-future.