Aconcagua Valley
Aconcagua Valley
An hour's drive north of Santiago, the Aconcagua Valley takes its name from the river that runs through it, not from the giant 7000m peak in the Andes. Though traditionally an inland region, two newish coastal regions, Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley bring a new dimension to the region's offering. Much of the Aconcagua Valley is considered too hot for winemaking, but Don Maximiano Errazuriz took the plunge in the mid-1800s and planted vines in the region. Sena, a celebrated Bordeaux blend made by Vina Errazuriz, is still made there, proving that in the right locations too much heat is no barrier to success. Like many regions of Chile, the steep rise of the Andes frames the topography of Aconcagua, with vineyards in the west a mere 50 metres high while those in the east can reach 1000 metres above sea level. The cooler coastal regions produce excellent Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay rounded out by pockets of Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah, while the eastern parts of the region are home to Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere.
