Chile Wine

Located along the southwestern coast of South America, Chile has ideal conditions for growing wine grapes. With the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes Mountains towering to the east, Chile remains fairly isolated from the rest of the continent. Fortunately for wine producers, the Andes trap in just enough moisture for proper grape growing and also keep out the pesky phylloxera louse. The predictable long, dry summers and cool winters make ideal growing conditions and provide for consistent vintages from year to year. The major grape-producing areas are located in the Chile's Central Valley.

Chile wine regions are:

• Aconcagua
  North of the capital city Santiago, Aconcagua is the warmest of the major red-wine regions.
  
  
• Maipo
  Most of the large wineries are located in this region, directly south of Santiago.
  
  
• Rapel
  This wine region is located south of Santiago and directly below Maipo. It produces both red and white wine.
  
  
• Maule
  This southern-most region is wetter and even cooler than Rapel. Parts of this region grow a common red grape called Pais.
  
  
• Casablanca
  Although technically part of Aconcagua, Casablanca is essentially a separate region that lies outside the Central Valley. It is located close to the coast, which makes for a cooler climate. This region has shown potential for growing white grapes, such as Chardonnay.

Chile Wine Grapes

Chile 's best and most widely produced grape is Cabernet Sauvignon. Most of the wines made in Chile are red and are primarily made from:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Pinot Noir
• Malbec
• Carmenere

Chile popular white-wine varietals include:

• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc