The Elqui Valley wine region is located 400 kilometers (250mi) North of the Chilean capital, Central-valley/maipo-valley/santiago">Santiago, at the very southern edge of the Atacama Desert. Its latitude of 29° makes it Chile's northernmost wine region, for now at least; the country's determined wine pioneers are now setting their sights as far north as the Atacama. Traditionally the region focused exclusively on producing Chile's trademark brandy, Pisco, but today Elqui Valley vineyards are producing Bright, intensely Aromatic wines, most notably from Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah.
As might be expected in an arid, largely uninhabited region surrounded by desert, the valley is hot and Dry making irrigation essential in all vineyards here.
The Elqui province is famous for its bright sunshine, pure air and Clear skies as well as a number of astronomical observatories. Vineyards here receive far higher levels of solar radiation than any European wine region, and this seems to translate into the wine style. The vibrant intensity of Elqui Valley wines, when yields and potential Alcohol are kept in check, can be quite remarkable.
The secret to successful viticulture this close to the equator is altitude.
Elqui's vineyards sit up to 2,000 meters (6,550ft) above sea level, which means that the Warm, bright, days are followed by cool, fresh nights. This diurnal temperature variation lengthens the grape growing season, of which allows grapes time to develop intense varietal character, while retaining refreshing levels of acidity.
Wineries all over Chile now focus heavily on the altitude of their vineyards. Altitude has become as much a marketing tool as a key element of terroir.
Malbec, a high-yielding red grape variety, produces tannic and colourful wines. It is produced in different wine-growing regions and changes its name according to the grape variety. Called Auxerrois in Cahors, Malbec in Bordeaux, it is also known as Côt. 6,000 hectares of the Malbec grape are grown in France (in decline since the 1950s). Malbec is also very successful in Argentina. The country has become the world's leading producer of Malbec and offers wines with great potential.
wines from the region of Elqui Valley go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of beef with panang curry (red curry), lamb tagine with prunes or venison leg marinated in white wine and grand marnier.
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