The Limari Valley is located on the coast of Chile, midway between La Serena and Coquimbo.
The Limari Valley is located on the coast of Chile, midway between La Serena and Coquimbo. This wine region is known for its cool climate with hot days and cold nights, which provides great conditions for producing Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The Latitude is 30°23′ S, Longitude: 71°42′ W.
It’s also geographically diverse with microclimates – the valley curls inland from the coast which has a cooler climate than the rest of Chile’s coastal areas. The valley is to the north of the city of La Serena and to the south of the city of Coquimbo. While La Serena reaches temperatures above 100°F in summer, Limari Valley can be as much as 20-30°F cooler due to ocean breezes that blow in from both sides (the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Humboldt Current on another).
Because of its unique coastal location, it experiences a Mediterranean climate with cool sea breezes, morning fog and high humidity.
The climate in the Limari Valley, unlike many of Chile’s other wine regions, is considered Mediterranean, with cool sea breezes coming off the Pacific Ocean which provides relief from the heat during summer. It also has high humidity and morning fog. In general, these conditions allow for long sunny days and cool nights.
The influence of the Humboldt Current makes for a unique growing environment where vines grow at an optimum level thanks to this cold current that flows up from Antarctica. These are ideal conditions for low-yield vineyards producing high quality wines with great varietal expression and enormous freshness.
The area is mostly flat except for the El Melocotón hill range to the west, which is well known for its distinctive reddish-colored soils.
The region is mostly flat except for the El Melocotón hill range to the west, which is well known for its distinctive reddish-colored soils. The valley itself has sandy soils and the hills are mostly clay-based.
Vineyards in the valley are primarily planted in sandy soils, which help to provide excellent drainage.
The Limari valley is predominantly flat, and the vineyards in the valley are primarily planted in sandy soils, which help to provide excellent drainage. The soil has several unique properties that make it unlike any other wine region in Chile. Soil properties are important for vineyards because they have a direct impact on the quality of grapes grown. Farmers need to have a specific understanding of what sort of soil they are working with in order to best plant and care for their crops.
Since 1977, the Limari Valley has been known for producing world-class Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines.
The coolest of Chile’s major wine regions, Limari is known for producing world-class Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines. It was here that the first Chardonnay vineyards were planted in Chile back in 1977. The combination of cool climate and excellent soil produces expressive, elegant grapes from which to craft those whites – but you can also find other varietals, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, growing in this region.
When selecting a bottle from the Limari Valley, look for the classic white grape varieties: Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are what this region does best. For best results when drinking these classy whites, chill them down – they’re crisp enough to stand up well to chilled temperatures without losing their aromatic bouquet or taste profile. You can expect a delicate balance of fruit and acidity with a long finish in your glass.
There are currently four appellations in the valley: Limarí Valley itself, Elqui Valley, Choapa Valley and Petorca Province.
Chile is divided into 14 wine regions, each of which has its own DO (Denominación de Origen) or AVA (American Viticultural Area). Within the regions are subregions. Each DO or AVA has a set of rules that must be followed to use its name on wine labels. For example, if a winery is located in Napa Valley, it can only use Napa Valley on its label if at least 85% of the grapes used in the wine were grown in Napa Valley. This is meant to give consumers a sense of where their grapes came from. For example, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon tastes different from Santa Ynez Cabernet Sauvignon because of differences in microclimates, soil and weather conditions within those two regions.
There are currently four appellations in the valley: Limarí Valley itself, Elqui Valley, Choapa Valley and Petorca Province.
The Limari Valley produces top-notch Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the flagship wines of the Limari Valley. This region has a reputation for making world-class Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines that are beautifully balanced, rich in flavor, and full-bodied. Limari Valley is a great place to grow Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc because it has high temperatures during the day, cool breezes off the Pacific Ocean at night, clay-rich soil that retains water well, and dry conditions (very little rain). The weather gives these grapes all the sunshine they need to ripen fully.
Other wine grapes grown in Limari include Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, Malbec and Carménère.