Top 100 wines of South - Page 2

Discovering the wine region of South

Malleco Valley is a Southern wine-growing region in Chile, some 540 kilometers (340 miles) south of the capital, Central-valley/maipo-valley/santiago">Santiago, in the Malleco province. The region is particularly challenging to Grape growers because of its marginal Climate, high rainfall and Short growing season, but the crisp, fresh wines produced here from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. are beginning to attract international attention. The wine industry in Malleco Valley is still in its embryonic stages, and there is less than 40 hectares (100 acres) under Vine here.

Most vineyards lie around the town of Traiguén, just south of the Bío Bío Valley; a large portion of these belong to the Viña Aquitania wine estate of Maipo Valley. The cold climate here approaches the extreme of what is suitable for winemaking, and the relatively short growing season limits what varieties growers are able to Plant in Malleco Valley. The high rainfall – 1300 millimeters (51 inches) a year – is a far cry from the semi-arid Cabernet Sauvignon heartlands in the North of Chile such as Aconcagua or the warmer, drier parts of the Central Valley region, and growers must plan accordingly. On the positive side vineyards enjoy more hours of sunlight than in more northerly regions, and the nights are considerably cooler than the days.

This diurnal temperature variation slows the ripening period of the grapes, and as a result the wines of Malleco Valley have a fresh, racy Acidity that complements their Varietal character. Malleco Valley's red clay and sandy soils are volcanic in origin and are reasonably well drained – essential, given the area's high levels of rainfall. The lack of water held in the ground means that the vines have to work harder for hydration, and as a consequence will develop less energy-sapping foliage and lower yields of grapes. The wines produced from these grapes have more-concentrated flavors and excellent structure.