Chile’s Central Valley, where most of it’s wine is produced, is made up of four sub regions, the Maipo, Rapel, Curico and Maule Valleys. Each valley has a river running through it but the climate and drainage differ slightly depending on each sub regions relationship with the Andes and the Coastal Ranges, meaning different flavours come out of each valley. For many years Chilean wine makers didn’t take full advantage of the nuances these slight differences can make to wine, but now the grapes being planted are selected much more carefully to compliment the site and some of the best Chilean wines are coming out of the Maipo Valley, also the region with the longest established vines.

Maipo’s cool ocean breezes, bright sunshine and elevated slopes are perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, one of the export varieties Chile has become synonymous with, but local vineyards also grow Merlot and Chardonnay on the upper slopes. Smaller crops of Pinot Noir and Rieslings have also been planted in the valley.

Maipo is also the closest valley to Santiago, with vineyards and wineries pushing against it’s suburbs which is another reason so many of Chile’s best producers have their wineries here. Don’t miss Concha y Toro, the biggest winery in Chile, and it produces wines in a variety of standards, including some of Chile’s best Cabernet Sauvignons or the smaller Santa Rita vineyard which offers excellent behind the scenes tours and outdoor tasting garden: this mosaic of vineyards reaching up towards the Andes foothills creates a romantic setting for sipping wine.

Written by  Kat Mackintosh.

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I recently had the Vina Maipo Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon 08 I found it to be a very pleasent easy drinking wine, I work at Everything Wine in Victoria, British Columbia Canada. I recommend this wine to almost anyone one whom wants a easy drinking well balanced red wine with the right amount of spicy notes, red fruit aromas with a soft elegant, long finish. I have sold more bottles of this wine than any other at this point in time. I even had my manager take two bottles home with his wife and they agree.

 

Comment posted 29th September 2009 by Nicole H..

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