Since December 1994, the Chilean wine-producing regions have been officially defined as follows, to help identify the different features of wines produced in different parts of Chile's variable geography. The Chilean ministry of agriculture redefined in a decree of May 2018 the zonal winegrowing structure:
Atacama Region Named after the
Atacama Region administrative territory, this region is divided into two valleys,
Copiapó and
Huasco, both of which are coterminous with the provinces of the same names. The region is known primarily for its
Pisco but in the 1950s wine began to be produced on a small scale around Copiapó. Examples of wine from these valleys include "Vino Copiapino" (literally, "Copiapó's Wine") by Viña Fajardo and
Pajarete wine, a varietal from Spain that is now produced successfully in the
Huasco Valley.
Coquimbo Region The
Coquimbo Region contains three wine-producing sub regions: Elqui, Limarí and Choapa, all are coterminous with the provinces of the same name. • The
Elqui Valley is located north of
Santiago, at the southern end of the
Atacama Desert in the
Coquimbo Region. It is known for producing table grapes and other fruits, as well as
Pisco, Chile's most popular
liquor. But it is also notable for being the most commercially viable wine-producing region of northern Chile. The region's vineyards extend from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the
Andes Mountains in the east, rising to an altitude of 2,000
m.a.s.l. (6,500 feet). Wine production began in the Elqui Valley in the 1990s when Chilean wine producers began to look at potential viticulture sites outside the
Chilean Central Valley. Since then, of vines have been planted, mostly along the
River Elqui valley, where grape growers have access to high-quality water for irrigation. The region is characterized by a sunny, desert-like climate, less than of annual rainfall, dry rocky terrain, steep valleys and temperate hills cooled by strong winds from the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, producing excellent results for varietals like
Syrah. • The
Limarí Valley is located roughly north of
Santiago, in the
Coquimbo region. Vines were first planted here in the mid-16th century and have seen a recent resurgence, due to new technologies and winemakers seeking new
terroirs. The area is best known for producing
Sauvignon and
Chardonnay, first planted during the 1990s, and also successfully produces
Syrah and
Pinot noir, with a climate similar to Marlborough in
New Zealand. The Pacific Ocean has a strong influence on the coast of the region with the cooling
Camanchaca, a fog that enters the valley from the west each morning and retreats as the sun rises over the
Andes from the east. With less than 4 inches of rainfall per year, drip irrigation is used to water the vines that grow in the mineral-rich soil. The combination creates fresh wines with a distinct mineral edge. • The
Choapa Valley lies around north of
Santiago, in the southern part of the
Coquimbo Region. Like the Atacama, this region is primarily known for Pisco and table grapes.
Aconcagua Region The administrative region of
Valparaíso contains two wine-producing subregions, the Aconcagua and
Casablanca valleys. The Aconcagua Valley is coterminous with the province of
San Felipe de Aconcagua Province while the Casablanca Valley is coterminous with the
commune of that name. The
Panquehue commune is also gradually developing a reputation for high quality wine production. • In the
Aconcagua Valley, snow melt from
Aconcagua and the surrounding mountains is used to irrigate the vines. The small 1,098 hectare winegrowing area is well known for its red wines, which have earned international acclaim, with Vina Errázuriz's "
Seña" placing ahead of both
Château Lafite and
Château Margaux in blind tasting held in Berlin in 2004, a milestone for the Chilean wine industry. Although the valley is primarily known for the red grapes grown in its interior, white grapes are also now being grown in new coastal plantations. • The
Casablanca Valley takes its name from the
commune where it is located, and stretches roughly east-west from eastern border of the Valparaíso province in the
Valparaíso region. Vines were first planted here in the mid-1980s during the revitalization of the Chilean wine industry and the area quickly became known for its white wines, most notably
Sauvignon blanc and
Chardonnay, as well as
Pinot noir, which thrives in its cooler climate. Although the valley is located at 33°S, much closer to the
Equator than any European vineyard, viticulture here is possible because of the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean, in the shape of cool morning fog and greater cloud cover than is found elsewhere in the north of Chile. Free-draining clay and sandy soils, whilst good for viticulture, encourage nematodes, so grafting onto nematode-resistant rootstocks is common. •
San Antonio Valley is a small wine region known for producing
Pinot noir,
Sauvignon blanc and
Chardonnay. It is located very close to the sea around the city of
San Antonio, Chile, south of the
Casablanca Valley and only west of
Santiago. As in other Chilean wine regions, like the
Casablanca Valley, San Antonio is highly influenced by the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean which makes wine production possible in this area. Soils are in the valley are
granitic, poor and well drained with a
topsoil of clay, providing a good
substrate for vines. Rains are concentrated mainly in the winter season and the vineyards require drip irrigation for the rest of the year, using water from the
Maipo river. The San Antonio Valley is seen as an up-and-coming wine region and the wine industry is expected to continue growing in the future.
Central Valley Region The Central Valley spans the
O'Higgins (VI) and
Maule (VII) administrative regions as well as the
Metropolitana Region. Within it are four subregions: the Maipo Valley, the Rapel Valley, the
Curicó Valley and the Maule Valley. This is Chile's most productive and internationally known wine region, due in large part to its proximity to the country's capital, Santiago. It is located directly across the Andes from
Argentina's most well known wine region,
Mendoza Province ;Central Maipo: Corresponds to the area surrounding the
Maipo river.
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates wine production here, but the area has also started producing
Carmenere wines. This sub region has rocky
alluvial soils and is the warmest and driest part of the Maipo, requiring
drip irrigation. ;The Pacific Maipo: Area benefits from the coastal influence of the Pacific Ocean as well as the alluvial soils found here. Because of the oceanic influence, it is a popular place to experiment with white grapes, most notably
Sauvignon blanc. • The
Rapel Valley is named after the
Rapel River and
Lake Rapel and is one of the largest wine-producing regions in the Central Valley, producing roughly a quarter of all Chilean wine. It is made up of two smaller sectors, the Cachapoal and Colchagua valleys. ;The Cachapoal Valley: Cachapoal Valley occupies the northern part of Rapel Valley, 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 towards 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, while closer to the coast, where the ocean breezes flow through the Coastal Range, more
Carmenere vines are grown. Some recommended Wineries from this area are: Altair; Casas del Toqui; Clos des Fous; Los Boldos; Misiones de Rengo; San José de Apalta; Terraustral; Torreón de Paredes; Vik; Viña La Rosa and
Viña Tipaume. ; The Colchagua Valley: Colchagua Valley is one of the best-known wine regions of Chile. It occupies the southern part of Rapel Valley, running from the
Andes in the east to the
Coastal Range in the west. Most of the important Colchagua vineyards lie in the foothills of the Coastal Range. The area is best known for its full-bodied
Malbecs,
Cabernet Sauvignons,
Carmeneres and
Syrahs. Colchagua has a cool
Mediterranean climate, with rainfall, and soils of clay, sand and decomposed granite. • The
Curicó Valley is located south of
Santiago,
Chile's capital city, at 35°S, a similar latitude to the southern tip of Spain. It is divided in two sub-regions: the
Teno valley in the north and
Lontue in the south. Wine production in this area is known for the variety of grapes, reliability and good value
Cabernet Sauvignon and
Sauvignon blanc. Although European vines have been growing in the Curicó area since the mid-1800s, the modern wine production in Curicó began in the late 1970s when Spanish wine maker Miguel Torres decided to explore the capabilities of this area, bringing new technologies such as stainless steel tanks that are now very common in Chilean wine industry. Torres’ endeavour encouraged foreign investment which led to increased plantings and exploration of suitable grape varieties for the area. The valley's climate is varied. The eastern part near the
Andes is cooler than the western side due to the breezes coming down from the mountains, and most of the biggest producers are located in this area of Curicó and in
Molina. At the western end, the coastal range protects the valley from the ocean influence. Curicó Valley is planted with more grape varieties than anywhere else in
Chile, but the dominant varieties are
Cabernet Sauvignon and
Sauvignon blanc. Curicó may have yet to produce a Cabernet Sauvignon to rival Maipo's red wines and its Sauvignon blanc still does not match the fresh, complex style found in Casablanca, but the valley is one of Chile's workhorse regions and its output is consistent and reliable. • The
Maule Valley is located south of
Santiago,
Chile's capital city, and forms part of the Central Valley region. It is one of the largest winegrowing regions in Chile and is also one of country's oldest and most diverse valleys. The size of the region permits a range of distinct microclimates suitable for both red and white wines, though it is best known for its powerful
Cabernet Sauvignon and aromatic and spicy
Carmenere wines. Rich and volcanic soils predominate in the area, although certain parts of the valley have varying soil types, like the Empedrado area which is dominated by slate soils. The Maule Valley was one of the first areas in
Chile where vines were planted and its
viticulture history stretches back to the start of colonisation. The valley was originally known for the quantity more that the quality of its wines, but in recent years it has attracted renewed attention. Since the mid-1990s, new technologies have been introduced allowing the region to improve the quality of its wines. Despite this, some of Maule's old techniques have survived and the region is fast becoming known for some 70-year-old
Carignan vines that are being used to produce soft, earthy red wines with rich plum and black-fruit flavours. Maule lies at the southern end of the Central Valley and is one of the coolest wine-producing areas in Chile, although the
Maule River flowing east to west has a moderating effect on the climate. The river also provides the different alluvial soil types found around the region, which included granite, red clay, loam and gravel. On the slopes where the vineyards grow, the soils are free-draining and more fertile on the valley floor. Many hectares are grown organically and have been certified as organic for decades. The Maule Valley produces good value everyday wines of quality that has been improving over the years. There are also old-bush, dry-farmed vineyards that produce naturally balanced field blends of
Carignan,
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Malbec, and other yet to be identified varieties. Newer plantations include
Merlot,
Cabernet Franc, and
Carmenere with bright acidity and juicy fruit notes.
Southern Chile Lying within the
Ñuble and
Bío Bío Administrative Region, this area includes three wine-producing sub regions: the
Itata Valley, the Bío Bío Valley and the Malleco Valley. The region is primarily known for its mass-produced
boxed Pais wine and
jug wines, though the
Concha y Toro Winery has experimented with
Gewürztraminer from this region. Chile's southern wine regions have more rainfall, lower average temperatures and fewer hours of sunlight than the northern wine regions. • The
Bío-Bío Valley is located in the
province and
region of the same name. One of Chile's southern wine regions, it has become known for its crisp, aromatic wines. The region is located at a latitude of 36°S, similar to southern Spain and Monterey in California. The majority of its vineyards lie between above sea level with a moderate
Mediterranean climate. It receives of rain per year, among the highest of all Chilean wine valleys, although winds prevent excessive humidity – a phenomenon that can also be observed in northern France. For most of the 20th century, the main varieties grown in the Bío Bío valley were
Moscatel de Alejandria and
Pais (known as Missiones in USA), but today,
Pinot noir,
Chardonnay, and
Sauvignon blanc are also grown throughout the valley. •
Malleco is located south of the capital of
Chile, Santiago, and lies in the
province of the same name. The wine industry here is still developing but good results are already being obtained, particularly from its crispy and fresh
Chardonnay and
Pinot noir. The climate is cool, with a high level of rainfall ( a year), a short growing season, and high temperature variation between day and night, which is challenging for wine producers. Most vineyards are located around the town of
Traiguen, just south of the
Bio Bio Valley. The volcanic soil in Malleco, composed mainly of sand and clay, are reasonably well drained. Although the valley has high rainfall, vines have to make extra effort to hydrate due to the well-drained soil, which results in less foliage and lower grape yields. All these factors produce grapes with more concentrated flavour and excellent structure, which in turn leads to the crispy and fresh wine produced in the region. ==Viticulture==