(Just-Drinks) - Wild fires hit the Chilean - and then global - headlines earlier this month. The subsequent damage to some of the country's vineyards may have affected just a few, but, as Chris Losh observes, that damage could have catastrophic consequences for Chile's flag-bearing wine makers.

The pictures were shocking. Walls of flame, burned out villages, blackened vineyards. Anyone who's seen images of the Chilean wildfires can't fail but be moved by their devastation. It's a poignant reminder, in these days of Powerpoint marketing strategies, drip irrigation and concrete eggs, that nature is a powerful force – and one that's not always tame-able by man.

Like many New World wine countries with a hot, dry climate, Chile is no stranger to summer fires. But, seasoned observers have described these as being the worst in over 50 years. Over 300,000 hectares of land have been wiped out, the Government has declared a state of emergency, and international assistance has been requested.

But, what caused it? And, why, this time, was it so devastating?