Located 85 km (53 mi) south of
Santiago, the
Cachapoal Valley is a wine-growing area in Cachapoal in the
O`Higgins Region of central
Chile, to the north of the Rapel Valley. It is located between the heights of
Paine to the north and
Pelequén to the south and between the
Andes to the west and the smaller coastal range to the east. The valley takes its name from the
Cachapoal River that flows through Rapel Valley along with its tributaries, the
Claro and
Cortaderal Rivers. All these watercourses flow into
Lake Rapel. The climate of the valley is temperate and consistently
Mediterranean, sheltered by the coastal range from the cooling influences of the
Pacific Ocean. Most of Cachapoal's noteworthy wineries and vineyards are located toward the east of the region, in the foothills of the Andes, away from the warmer valley floor. This is an area for
Cabernet Sauvignon vines, whereas closer to the coast the ocean breezes flow through the coastal range, and there are more
Carménère vines. ==References==