Central Chile

About

The Viticultural Cradle of the Southern Hemisphere Stretching between the towering, snow-capped peaks of the Andes Mountains and the cool, mist-shrouded Pacific Coast, the Central Valley ( Valle Central ) of Chile is the historic and economic heart of South American winemaking. Hugging the country’s capital of Santiago, this dynamic viticultural macro-region spans a diverse network of world-renowned sub-valleys that have been producing fine wine since Spanish conquistadors and Jesuit missionaries brought the first vines in the 16th century. In the late 19th century, rich Chilean landowners imported elite, pre-phylloxera vine cuttings directly from Bordeaux. Protected by the absolute geographic isolation of the Atacama Desert to the north, Antarctica to the south, the Andes to the east, and the Pacific to the west, Central Chile stands as a pristine, naturally organic viticultural sanctuary where original, ungrafted European rootstocks still thrive today. A Masterpiece of Topography & Climatic Belts Central Chile enjoys a pristine Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and bright sunshine. However, the true genius of the region lies in how it is partitioned into distinct viticultural strips from east to west: Entre Cordilleras (Between the Mountains): The warm, fertile valley floors situated between the Coastal Range and the Andes. This sun-drenched strip is the spiritual home of rich, full-bodied reds, offering perfect ripening conditions for late-maturing varieties. Costa (The Coastal Zones): Influenced by the icy, antarctic Humboldt Current rolling off the Pacific ocean. Cool morning fogs and refreshing maritime breezes travel inland, preserving electric natural acidity and driving the production of world-class, mineral-driven Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, and cool-climate Pinot Noirs. Andes (The High Altitudes): Vineyards planted directly on the rugged, volcanic slopes of the mountain range. Here, intense solar radiation combined with dramat