About Chilean Wine

Elevation

  • Chile has two major mountain ranges that greatly affect its viticulture: the coastal range and the Andes mountain range.
  • Chile’s vineyard elevation ranges from 400ft to 7,200ft – where some of the highest vineyards are found in the Andes Mountains of the Atacama Desert.

Climate

  • Chile has been named a ‘viticultural paradise’ for its textbook mediterranean Climate. Long, dry summers are perfect for the growing season, paired with its cold, rainy winters.
  • The Humboldt Current coming up the Pacific Coast of Chile brings frigid waters from Patagonia and a cool morning fog every morning that vines love (called the ‘Camanchaca’ fog).
  • Large diurnal temperature shifts from day-to-night greatly influence the complexity and balance of Chile’s higher-elevation viticultural regions.

Soil

  • Chile’s geological diversity creates a mosaic of soil types across its viticultural regions: including limestone, basalt, decomposed granite, schist, volcanic tuff, clay, sand and loam.
  • Older than the Andes mountains, Chile’s coastal mountain range is a base of low-fertility, decomposed granite that is ideal for deep root systems and irrigation drainage.

The Wine Regions

Elqui Valley

Limari Valley

Aconcagua Valley

Casablanca Valley

San Antonio Valley

Maipo Valley

Cachapoal Valley

Colchagua Valley

Maule Valley

Itata Valley

Bio Bio Valley

Malleco Valley