• by Kelly Samardak , July 15, 2010

Discover, Decant, and Enjoy Chile, Puro Chile, New York
July 14, 2010

I have always been a sucker for packaging. If it's cute, colorful, rounded, with maybe a bit of a matte/cloudy tone, it's mine.  Word-packaging leads to my wallet downfall as well.  Moisturizes and strengthens? Take my money.  Delivers shine and contains microbeads of magic? You get the picture. Last night, Chile came delivered on horseback and in a bottle, and I drank that milkshake right up.

Buddy Media's Jenean Chapman came along for what was touted as a first-class flight through Chile.  Entertainment was promised at 6:30 p.m sharp and I couldn't wait.  Last time I went to a country-focused fete, the entertainment was a family of elaborately costumed dancers -- what would Chile step up with? 

They started with strict adherence to time, that's for sure.  As in, I showed up at 5:58p.m. and was ushered right back out onto the humid street because I had to "wait two minutes" until the doors officially opened.  This is the second time I have shown up literally two minutes early to a party and have been asked to wait.  Two minutes, people. 

Anyway, Puro Chile is a neat little place.  On one side, you've got a wine shop and on the other you've got this little event space/showcase for Chilean products and tourism.  I'd like to see an Ohio store in NYC, complete with petting zoo.  I can plan the menu for the opening party -- it will definitely include Buckeyes. 

At this party, the first people I met were Mimi McGuire, Director, Airline Relations, at Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc (she was also waiting outside for two minutes with me) and Lloyd Cole, also of Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc.   They were hanging out by the "First Flight" of wines, a collection of whites from Chile.

"We're surrounded by travel agents," Jenean whispered in a tone one would use if they had just seen a toad driving a tractor, "I didn't know they still existed!"  It does seem like the Internet can do everything for us, doesn't it?  But I supposed if you want a really tailored trip, especially to an unfamiliar region, the human being is a worthwhile asset.

I wandered around, picking up cheese slices and dipping at least 20 hunks of bread into the square dishes of olive and avocado oil pools.  Pretty sure I could drink every olive oil on display, but the avocado oil was a little... dull.  It tastes like grey.  It was by the oils that I met the cutest couple on earth, Eileen Lowe Hart and Norman Hart of Isramworld, a travel agency focusing on "Tours for the discriminating traveler." They were so friendly and adorable in their lime green/hot pink coordination.

I'll bet by now you're dying to hear about the entertainment portion of the night!  You get three guesses!

... No, it wasn't a rodeo, which Rancagua, Chile (a bit south of Santiago) is famous for.

... No, it wasn't a musical performance by The Mapuches, who call Temuco Villarrica home, which is also where you'll find volcanoes and thermal springs.

... No, it wasn't a barking sea lion, which you'll find if you're in Chilean Antarctica

It was a Powerpoint presentation.  I know, sexy, right?

Now, I'm not saying the presentation wasn't good. Juan Pablo Chovar from Tourismo Chile clicked through slide after beautiful slide of photos from the length of Chile.  Volcanos at night, huge slabs of glaciers towering over kayaks slicking through the stillness, very cold water, gorgeous thick greens cut with winding hiking paths speckled with backpackers, swooshes of powered white stuff puffing from under a slicing snowboard, some sort of rabbit squirrel creature -- all sold me on what I'll do with my lottery winnings.

The other big seller for me was the Koyle Cabernet, a "solid" wine with "a mix of black currant fruit, toasted vanilla and loam notes."  I don't know what the hell loam is, but I want more of it in my life. The wine card also said "drink now"  -- which I did.  It was so good, I might try it on my cereal.    The wine really spoke for itself, but Lorie Tieszen, Executive Director at Wines of Chile USA, delved into deep detail of each region, which, while lengthy (and spattered with annoying cell phone chirpings) gave me over a dozen more reasons to visit Chile. 

I'd say my favorite part of her presentation was when she said her favorite region is Carmenère from Haras de Pirque because "it means stud farm."  I also cackled inside when "No Phyllotera" popped up as a benefit statement alongside "family friendly" as a descriptor for some Chilean vineyards.  Because really, when I'm getting purple-lipped with the fermented stuff, I want to be surrounded by children.  Note to self, when booking trip to Chile look for "family-unfriendly" vineyards.

Also seen enjoying the Chilean mingle were Jake Goodheart, Tour Operator at Pacific Holidays; Jeff Boedges of SoHo Experiential; Arnie Weissman of Travel Weekly; Dino Altomare, an importer for Banfi; Sana Butler from Newsweek; and Thom Meintel from Travel Squire. I'm also very jealous of Claire Bauman, a tour operator for Academic Arrangements Abroad, who won the big fat gift basket raffle and Peggy Murphy of USTOA who won a trip to Chile.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find out what that rabbitsquirrel thing was.  

Photos are up on Flickr!

Oh! Will I be seeing any of you tonight at the 212 summer party at South Street Seaport's Water Taxi Beach?