The subcontinent South America encompasses 13 countries with 17,843,000 km², which corresponds to 12% of the Earth's land area and has 441 million inhabitants. These countries are Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador (with the Galapagos Islands), French Guiana, Guyana, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Viticulture was established here upon the arrival of the Portugal and Spain conquistadors in the early 16th century (for historical backgrounds see America, New World, and USA). However, the colonization and thus the introduction of viticulture began in Central America. The Spaniard Hernando Cortez (1485-1547) found native grape variety in Mexico in 1519, but the Aztecs were unaware of wine production from them.
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Sigi Hiss
freier Autor und Weinberater (Fine, Vinum u.a.), Bad Krozingen