 |
| Wine Regions of Chile (Source: http://www.chilean-wine.com) |
Although some may find this hard to believe, Chile is one of the leading producers of wine in both North and South America. A large portion of the Chilean population emigrated from Italy, France and Spain. Combining wine know-how from Europe with a favorable climate for growing grapes, Chile began producing wine in the 1980s.
Good weather for grape
growing includes warm summers, cooling coastal breezes and moderate rainfall. That type of climate is common across much of
Chile. The Andes Mountains dominate much
of the Chilean landscape and include many world-famous ski resorts and active
volcanoes. There are many valleys that have the ideal
climate for growing grape varietals. Chile
has been broken up into 14 different regions that specialize in different types
of wine.
The northernmost wine growing region is the Valle del Elqui, which has plentiful sunshine and a rocky soil combined with light amounts of average annual rainfall. Featuring a semi-arid climate, there are cool morning temperatures and warmer daytime temperatures. That’s conducive for the grape industry. This valley is also the primary growing area for Pisco. Aside from wine, Pisco Brandy is Chile’s national beverage.
The northernmost wine growing region is the Valle del Elqui, which has plentiful sunshine and a rocky soil combined with light amounts of average annual rainfall. Featuring a semi-arid climate, there are cool morning temperatures and warmer daytime temperatures. That’s conducive for the grape industry. This valley is also the primary growing area for Pisco. Aside from wine, Pisco Brandy is Chile’s national beverage.
During my visit to Chile
this past week, I toured the Valle de Casablanca region near the coastal
town of Valparaiso. Due to its proximity
to the Pacific Ocean, this region has a heavy maritime influence and is one of
the cooler wine regions in Chile.
Early-morning fog is common and helps add moisture to the grapes in an
otherwise arid region. This region has
been producing white wine – including Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc – since
the 1980s.
Having previously
visited Italy, France and South Africa, I went to Chile not knowing what to
expect from its wine industry. I was
quite impressed, not only by the variety and sophistication of their wines,
specifically adapted for the unique weather and topography, but the degree to
which they also emphasize sustainability and living green. That will be the subject of a future column.
Was delighted to read about Chilean wine varietals and the unique impact Chile's climate has on its ability to grow such a variety of grapes. Thank you for a most interesting column!!
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed Chilean wine but had no idea there were so many wine regions in Chile. Of course it makes sense due to the geographic diversity of the nation. Here's to Chilean wine!
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed Chilean wine but had no idea there were so many wine regions in Chile. Of course it makes sense due to the geographic diversity of the nation. Here's to Chilean wine!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting article, Chris! I didn't realize there were so many wine regions in Chile or that it was a leading producer of wine in both South and North America. It was also news to me that a large portion of the Chilean population are from Italy, France and Spain. Sounds like you had a great trip and got to experience both the varied topography and beautiful landscapes of the region.
ReplyDelete