Growing Regions

The wine lands of Chile are located in the center of the country, stretching 250 miles north and 350 miles south of the capital city of Santiago. Chile’s fine wine production lies in the heart of this lengthy expanse in the Aconcagua and Central Valleys.

North of these fine wine districts, vineyards are dedicated to table grapes and to the production of Pisco, Chile’s fiery distilled spirit. South of these fine wine districts, País is made into rustic table wine or distilled into brandy.

There are five principal wine regions in Chile that are further divided into smaller sub-regions and zones of production. From north to south, they are:

Coquimbo

Limarí Valley
The Limarí Valley is a cool winegrowing sub-region, despite its northerly latitude. The vineyards are less than 20 miles from the Pacific Coast and are greatly affected by the cooling breezes generated by the cold Humboldt Current. Irrigation is a must, as this area gets very little rain. Cabernet Sauvignon is widely planted here.

Aconcagua Valley

Aconcagua and Casablanca
Aconcagua is the northernmost fine wine region in Chile. The region takes its name from the Aconcagua River which runs through it. There are two distinct sub-regions, the Aconcagua Valley proper and Casablanca.

Whereas the Aconcagua Valley lies in the interior of the country and represents the hottest, driest fine wine growing area in Chile, Casablanca lies near the coast and represents Chile’s coolest.

Casablanca is relatively new, viticulturally speaking. Vines were first planted there in 1982. The region is located near the port city of Valparaiso and is characterized by frequent cloud cover and cooling fogs. The climate has proven ideal for Chardonnay, even though there is no rainfall during the summer, and producers must rely on wells for irrigation purposes. Frost can be a threat too. Nonetheless, one quarter of all of Chile’s Chardonnay is grown in Casablanca, and there is some growing excitement over the Pinot Noir plantings in this area.

Central Valley North

Maipo
The Maipo was planted in the mid-1800s by the wealthy of Santiago who built large wine estates as status symbols. During this time period, both vines and winemakers were imported from France in yet another statement of wealth and sophistication.

This sub-region is located just south of Chile’s capital city and is named after the Maipo River. Like the Aconcagua to the north, soils are fertile alluvial silts and sands, and irrigation is common. Most of the grape varieties planted here are red.

Smog from nearby Santiago, urban development, and airborne dust are the biggest challenges facing the vineyards today.

Rapel
Rapel is known for both its Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, although red wine production does outweigh white. Soils are sandy with patches of loam and clay, this area is not characterized by wide expanses of flat farmland like the rest of the Central Valley. It is peppered with hills and mountains. Even though many vines do flank the river flats, a considerable number of vineyards are planted on low- to steep-sloping hillsides.

Central Valley South

Curicó
The Coastal Range that flanks Curicó to the east prevents cooling sea breezes from reaching the inland vineyards. As a result, this sub-region is quite warm. The vines are planted on fertile, alluvial soils, and crop yields can be quite large if vigor is not held in check. Most of Chile’s Sauvignon Blanc is planted here.

Maule
Maule is characterized by more cloud cover and cooler temperatures than all the regions to the north except Casablanca. País is widely planted here, but considerable acreage is devoted to the classic international varieties as well. In fact, almost 25% of Chile’s vines are located in this sub-region.

Southern Region

Itata
Most of the vineyards of the Itata are devoted to País and Moscatel. This is a cool, damp region producing rustic wine that is often distilled into brandy.

Bío-Bío
The Bío-Bío lies at the southern end of the Central Valley. The Coastal Range is lower here, so the weather is more heavily impacted by the Pacific Ocean. There is more rain, less sun, and cooler temperatures. As in the Maule and Itata, País is widely planted here.