Wine Regions of Chile

Chile is the third largest exporter of wine today. It has a rich history of wine production that spans over a period of 500 years. Chileans have adopted the Bordeaux style of wine making which has been vastly supported by its rich clay and chalk based soil. On December 1994, the Republic of Chile defied its viti-cultural regions into four broad assortments, each with several other sub-regions under every category.

Coquimbo

Located 500 km from Santiago, the Coquimbo region forms the northern border of Chile’s wine territory. Nutrient rich and heavy soil make the cultivation of sweet grapes favorable. The grapes produced here are used in Pisco production which is a Brandy with a reputation to being Chile’s unofficial national drink. Of the sub-regions, Elqui is one of the more famous regions for wine tourism.  The Limair region is better known for its red wine production.

The Aconcagua valley

The Aconcagua valley enjoys a very Mediterranean climate characterised by hot days and cool humid nights. The soil has maintained its quality for hundreds of years favoring grape vineyards all the way back from the 1870s. The Casablanca valley located about 60km from Santiago is the next most important sub-region in this category. The climate is highly influenced by the sea and is comparatively cooler which is favorable for the growth of white grapes. And last but certainly not the least, San Antonio which is an hour’s drive from Santiago is exclusively known for its modern cultivation methods. It doesn’t have much romance to offer to a stereotypical wine tourist as it comparatively more industrial.

The Central Valley

The central valley region is the cradle of Chile’s wine industry. Maipo valley is the exact same location where 500 years ago, the Spanish laid the foundation of Chile’s first vineyards. Two of Chile’s best known centers for wine, The Cachapoal and The Colchagua valley are located in this region. Colchagua, also known as ‘The Wine Region of the Year’ in 2005, is one of the key tourist destinations for wine enthusiast. Curico is a region which is very popular for its French cultivation methods. The region of Maule is home to Chile’s third largest winery.

The Southern Region

Over the centuries, the southern region of Chile has created a niche for itself. The region of Itata has become acclaimed for the production of simple table wines. The Bio Bio Valley too has grown to become much-admired for the same. Malleco , has proven exceptional for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A shorter growing season has made Malleco unfriendly for more varied experimentation.