Chile

Chile’s wine producing areas stretch through the narrow central valleys from north of Santiago to Concepción in the south. For years, the main concentration of vineyards was in the Maipo valley, but recently, the region south to Bío Bío sees more vines.

In recent years, the world has begun to take notice of Chile’s wines. This recent success caps over 400 years of wine-making tradition, but it is natural conditions—climate, soils, and rootstock—that are responsible for the quality of Chilean wines. A mild Mediterranean climate, with long, dry summers, a daily fluctuation in temperature exceeding 60° F, and a relative humidity of 55-60%, promotes healthy root formation and the accumulation of sugars, aromas, and colors over a long ripening season. Most soils in Chile’s wine growing region are alluvial or volcanic in origin. Variations in nutrient content, porosity, and other soil characteristics within and between valleys contribute to regional wine qualities.