Central Valley (wine region)
Encyclopedia
In terms of viticulture
the Central Valley of Chile
(Spanish
: Valle Central) spans the O'Higgins Region
(VI) and Maule Region
(VII) Administrative Regions and the Administrative Metropolitan Region, and is the main growing zone for Chilean wine
and coincides with the historical core of the Chilean Central Valley
.
This is Chile's most productive and internationally known wine region, due in large part to its close proximately to the country's capital Santiago. It is located directly across the Andes' from one of Argentina
's wine regions: Mendoza Province. Within the Central Valley there are four wine growing regions subregions: the Maipo Valley, the Rapel Valley, the Curicó
Valley and the Maule Valley.
The soil of Maipo Valley is noted for high salinity
stemming from irrigation from the Maipo river and low potassium
level which has some impact on the grapevines. Vineyards in the Maule also suffer from low potassium as well as deficient nitrogen
levels. Advances in viticultural techniques have helped vineyards in these regions compensate for some of these effects.
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
the Central Valley of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
(Spanish
Chilean Spanish
Chilean Spanish is the variety of Spanish spoken in most of Chile. Though still entirely mutually intelligible with standard Spanish, Chilean Spanish has distinctive pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and slang usage...
: Valle Central) spans the O'Higgins Region
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
(VI) and Maule Region
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
(VII) Administrative Regions and the Administrative Metropolitan Region, and is the main growing zone for Chilean wine
Chilean wine
Chilean wine is wine made in the South American country of Chile. The region has a long viticultural history for a New World wine region dating to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought Vitis vinifera vines with them as they colonized the region. In the mid-19th century, French...
and coincides with the historical core of the Chilean Central Valley
Chilean Central Valley
The Central Valley , Intermediate Depression or Longitudinal Valley is the depression between the Chilean Costal Range and the Andes Mountains. The central valley should not be confused with Central Chile that encompasses part of the valley...
.
This is Chile's most productive and internationally known wine region, due in large part to its close proximately to the country's capital Santiago. It is located directly across the Andes' from one of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
's wine regions: Mendoza Province. Within the Central Valley there are four wine growing regions subregions: the Maipo Valley, the Rapel Valley, the Curicó
Curicó
Curicó , meaning "Black Waters" in Mapudungun , is the capital city of the Curicó Province, part of the Maule Region in Chile's central valley....
Valley and the Maule Valley.
- The Maipo Valley is the most widely cultivated valley and is known for Cabernet Sauvignon.
- The Rapel wine region in the Colchagua ProvinceColchagua ProvinceColchagua Province is one of three provinces of the central Chilean region of O'Higgins . Its capital is San Fernando. It is bordered on the north by Cachapoal Province, on the east by the Argentine Republic, on the south by Curicó Province, and on the west by Cardenal Caro Province.-Geography and...
is also known for it Cabernet. - Curicó has both red and white wine varieties planted but is most widely known for it Chardonnay.
- The Maule Valley still has large plantings of the local Pais but is gradually being planted with better red wine varieties.
The soil of Maipo Valley is noted for high salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
stemming from irrigation from the Maipo river and low potassium
Potassium
Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K and atomic number 19. Elemental potassium is a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive with water, generating sufficient heat to ignite the hydrogen emitted in the reaction.Potassium and sodium are...
level which has some impact on the grapevines. Vineyards in the Maule also suffer from low potassium as well as deficient nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
levels. Advances in viticultural techniques have helped vineyards in these regions compensate for some of these effects.