I’m one of those people who likes to believe that everything happens for a reason. Of course, life and experience offer a mixed bag in terms of support for the premise, but I figure that if I’m going to remain open and optimistic during my time on this planet, it’s probably worth it to look for ways to support the theory.

At 3:34am on February 27, a colossal 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the South American country of Chile. When an earthquake strikes a poor country, killing almost 300 people and causing an estimated $15B-$30B in damages, it’s hard to read the headlines wearing rose-colored glasses.

But I’ve been trying to put a positive spin on the situation (if such a thing is actually possible). And the positive spin is this: Maybe the earthquake will bring more awareness of the country, and – with increased awareness - more people will discover their delicious wine.

According to a recent article in DiscoveryNews, “Chile is the primary worldwide exporter of grapes, with control over 24 percent of the global grape market…Chile is fourth in the world for wine exports.”