The Aconcagua Valley is a wine region of Chile, located in the Valparaiso Region.
The Aconcagua Valley is a wine region of Chile, located in the Valparaiso Region. It is one of the main wine regions of Chile and has been for a long time. The valley is located in the central valley of Chile, a small portion of which lies in the Aconcagua province, but most lies in the Aconcagua region.
It is named after its main river, which means in many ruins “Aku-Kon-Hau,” or “Tears of the Sun god.”
Aconcagua River is Chile’s longest river and it has its source in the Andes Mountains. It is named after Aconcagua mountain, a peak that measures about 22,837 feet (6,960 m) and is the highest mountain in the Americas.
The Aconcagua Valley is north of Santiago and has seven subregions within it.
The Aconcagua Valley is located about one hour north of Santiago, the capital city. It is made up of seven subregions, each with its own distinctive characteristics.
- Central Valley: the largest subregion, with high vine density and a wide variety of climates and altitudes
- Casablanca Valley: cool and windy climate with steep slopes that are good for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
- San Antonio Valley (or Leyda): unique microclimate because it’s between mountains and ocean, great for Sauvignon Blanc
Aconcagua Costa is the most northern subregion, and is located on the coast bordering the Pacific Ocean inland to the area where the Andes Mountains meet the ocean.
Aconcagua Costa is the most northern subregion, and is located on the coast bordering the Pacific Ocean inland to the area where the Andes Mountains meet the ocean. This area has some of Chile’s oldest vineyards, dating back more than 200 years in some cases. The climate here has a definite maritime influence with cold mornings and fog as well as rain which is common during summer months.
While it was once known primarily for white wines and Sauvignon Blanc in particular, this area has been producing excellent reds in recent years as well. Red grapes grown here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Syrah while white wine enthusiasts will enjoy Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Viognier from this region also.
Aconcagua Costa has some of the warmest and driest climates in Chile; it is an area that suffers from lower humidity than other subregions and has a high risk for frost in winter.
You’ve probably heard of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, and Malbec. But what are you really going to see when you travel through the Aconcagua wine region?
This subregion is the most northern in Chile. It has some of the warmest and driest climates in Chile; it is an area that suffers from lower humidity than other subregions and has a high risk for frost in winter. The wind can be a factor for grapevines that are not protected by windbreaks.
What does all this mean for your wine trip? Simply put, this may not be the most picturesque region to visit (in fact, there are many urban areas), but if you want to experience the diversity of Chilean wines, this will be your best bet!
Wind can be a factor for grapevines that are not protected by windbreaks.
Windbreaks are used in many areas of Aconcagua Valley to help protect the grapes from the harsh winds that blow through the valley. Effective windbreaks are often made up of a mixture of trees and shrubs, but can be as simple as a row of tall hedges on the edge or in the middle of a vineyard. The best windbreaks provide protection to grapevines while still allowing full sun exposure, which is essential for grape ripening. Some farmers add an extra layer of protection by building additional windbreaks on their land. These additional buffers simultaneously protect their crops from the wind and reduce erosion in areas prone to heavy rains during harvest season.
In 2014, there were 1,052 hectares (2,598 acres) planted with wine grapes in this subregion.
There are 1,052 hectares (2,598 acres) of vineyards in this subregion. While this sounds like a fair amount of land, it is the smallest out of all the Aconcagua Valley subregions (the largest being Casablanca Valley with 5,000 ha / 12,355 ac). The area planted with wine grapes in the Aconcagua region will likely change within a few years because Aconcagua Costa is one of Chile’s fastest-growing wine regions.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a popular grape planted here along with Syrah, Merlot, Carmenere and Sauvignon Blanc.
Among the red varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular (in fact, it’s the most widely planted grape in Chile) and Syrah, Merlot and Carmenere are also very commonly found. Cabernet Sauvignon produces wines with excellent structure and aromatic complexity, especially when grown in cold climate areas like those of the Aconcagua Valley. In this area you will find some of Chile’s top producers of this variety. Popular brands include Montes, Casa Lapostolle, Concha y Toro and Vina Undurraga.
Other white grape plantings include Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc along with Gewurztraminer and Riesling.
Gewürztraminer is a pink-skinned grape variety that is usually grown in cool climate wine regions. Gewurz means “Spice” in the German language and Traminer refers to the grape’s origins in the Savoie region of France
Chenin Blanc is a white wine grape variety from the Loire valley of France. While Chenin Blanc can be made in a wide range of styles, from sparkling wines to well-wooded dessert wines, it most often produces dry, crisp, mineral-driven wines that have high acidity but also have the potential for richness and complexity.
The Aconcagua Region has never been one to embrace foreign grapes, so it’s no surprise that these varieties are not widely planted.