San Antonio Valley is a small wine region in Chile, located near the Pacific coast 80km (50 miles) as the crow flies west of the capital, Central-valley/maipo-valley/santiago">Santiago. A relatively recent addition to the Chilean national Vineyard, the region stands out as being able to produce quality Pinot Noir along with internationally respected white wines, including Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
The province for which the valley is named surrounds the coastal city of San Antonio, 90km (55 miles) west of central Santiago and just South of Casablanca Valley. Vineyards lie on the rolling hills that characterize the region, often within 32km (20 miles) of the Pacific Ocean that forms San Antonio's western edge.
The overall spread of the region is reasonably large, and distinct sub-regions (if not regions in their own right) exist. The Leyda Valley, for instance, is technically within San Antonio Province.
The same is true of San Rosario Valley, although this is likely as much to do with the petitioning of its major winery, Matetic, than any groundswell or bureaucratic initiative.
As in Casablanca Valley, the viticulture in San Antonio Valley is heavily influenced by the effects of the ocean.
Cool morning mists and spring frosts are more associated with the Napa Valley and Bordeaux than they are with Chilean wine regions, but the cold Humboldt Current, which flows up the west coast of Chile, brings exactly these conditions to San Antonio Valley.
This oceanic influence is largely responsible for making viticulture possible here. The cooler conditions during the day and the significant drop in temperature at night lead to an extended growing season and a slower ripening period, meaning that the San Antonio Valley can produce quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay balanced in sugar and acids, as well as Aromatic white varieties.
Surprisingly, given this cool Climate, several producers are also putting out well-received examples of Syrah from the region.
Marsanne is a white grape variety that originated in Montélimar in the Drôme, several centuries ago. Marsanne is also found in Cassis, Savoie, Languedoc-Roussillon and Saint-Péray in the Ardèche, where it produces remarkable sparkling wines. The warm, sunny climate of the Rhone Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, as well as the dry, stony soil, are ideal conditions for its development. Its bunches are quite large and provide small, juicy berries that are sensitive to grey rot and strong winds. These two grape varieties complement each other perfectly: together they give light wines with little acidity, aromas of yellow fruit, white fruit and flowers with notes of honey and liquorice. This is for example what the appellations Saint-Péray, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Côtes-du-Vallée du Rhône, Corbières, or Cassis express... which represent about 700 hectares.
wines from the region of San Antonio Valley go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, vegetarian or goat cheese such as recipes of mussels with curry, quiche without eggs or goat cheese dumplings.
On the nose in the region of San Antonio Valley often reveals types of flavors of grapefruit, leather or toasty and sometimes also flavors of cassis, clove or mushroom. In the mouth in the region of San Antonio Valley is a powerful with a nice freshness.
Sequence from the video « At the heart of the Mâcon terroir » which offer a stroll at the heart of the Mâcon terroir. It offers a focus on Mâcon-Saint-Gengoux-Le-National, one of the 27 geographical denominations of the Mâcon appellation. Travel through the terroirs of the Mâcon appellation by watching the full video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF20y1aBZh8 Both are available in French and English. Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines Twitter: https://twitte ...
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