ProChile Connects New York Media and Industry Professionals with Chile's Food and Beverage Culture

An exclusive culinary experience brought together journalists, influencers and industry professionals to explore Chilean wine, pisco, seafood and culinary traditions.

NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ProChile, Chile's export promotion agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed media, influencers and industry professionals to New York City on October 20 for an exclusive exploration of Chile's food and beverage culture. Through a curated Chilean lunch and a wine and pisco masterclass attendees discovered the country's distinctive flavors, from the heritage grape varieties and distinctive terroir of Chile's Itata Valley to the character and traditions of Chilean pisco, the country's signature grape-based spirit, while connecting with the people and stories behind these products.

The lunch featured a menu by Ignacia Valdés, whose experience includes working in Michelin-starred kitchens in Paris and New York. Inspired by her Chilean roots, Valdés showcased ingredients including caviar, cochayuyo, merkén, salmon, mussels and lúcuma, introducing guests to Chilean flavors through a contemporary culinary perspective.

The afternoon's wine and pisco masterclass featured Jonathan Charnay, Chilean sommelier and partner at Nuyores and former Beverage Director at three-Michelin-starred Masa, and Andrea Martínez Sandoval, Chilean sommelier and wine buyer at Astoria Wines & Spirits and Underground Wines & Spirits. Charnay presented a selection of Chilean wines from Itata valley, while Martínez Sandoval explored Chilean pisco, its origins, styles and production traditions.

"Connecting Chilean products with the media and industry professionals who influence how consumers discover food and beverages is an important part of our work in the U.S. market. This experience allowed us to share the diversity of Chile's offerings, celebrate the people and traditions behind them, and build relationships that can bring Chilean products to wider audiences," said Andrea Sapag, Chile's Trade Commissioner in New York.

Exploring Chile's Wine, Pisco and Culinary Traditions

Wine: Diversity, quality and sustainability

Chile's wine regions span more than 1,500 kilometers, from high-altitude vineyards to coastal sites. Approximately 350 wineries export to 140 markets worldwide, offering a broad portfolio of styles, from premium labels to small-production, organic, biodynamic and natural wines.

Sustainability is a key differentiator, with 92 wineries certified under Chile's National Code of Sustainability, representing 80% of bottled wine exports. The Itata Valley also reflects the country's rich viticultural heritage, with more than four centuries of winemaking history and renewed interest in varieties such as País, Cinsault and Carignan.

Pisco: Heritage and versatility

Produced primarily in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions, Chilean pisco holds the oldest Denomination of Origin in the Americas. Its clear and aged expressions offer versatility for sipping and cocktails, creating opportunities across bars, restaurants and retail.

In 2025, Chilean pisco exports reached US$3.9 million, up 27.6% year over year, with shipments to 40 markets and more than 110 international buyers.

Seafood: Quality from the Pacific

Chile's Pacific coastline supports a diverse seafood portfolio that includes salmon, mussels, southern hake, jack mackerel and farmed sturgeon caviar. The sector serves both retail and foodservice markets, supported by food safety and sustainability standards.

In 2025, Chilean seafood exports totaled US 2.918 billion, or 31.7% of shipments, making it Chile's leading seafood export destination.

By bringing media and industry professionals together around Chilean cuisine, wine and pisco, ProChile continues to strengthen awareness of the country's food and beverage offering and foster connections with key audiences in the U.S. market.

About ProChile

ProChile is Chile's export promotion agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through its network of offices in Chile and abroad, it supports Chilean companies in accessing international markets and promotes Chile as a reliable, innovative and sustainable supplier of goods and services.

Media contact:
Carla Castorina
[email protected]

SOURCE ProChile