The Winery Viña Santa Irene of Curico Valley of Central Valley

Discovering the wine region of Curico Valley

Curicó Valley is a wine-producing region in CentralChile, located roughly 115 miles (185km) South of the Chilean capital, Santiago. It is divided into two sub-regions: Teno in the North and Lontue Valley in the south. The Curicó is known for its reliable, good value everyday wines, Particularly the reds made from Cabernet Sauvignon and whites from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Curicó's vineyards are planted with more varieties than anywhere else in Chile.

The first two grapes mentioned above are the most heavily planted, as they were when the region first appeared on the international wine map. The reds may not consistently rival the best from Maipo, and its Sauvignon Blanc may not quite match the fresh, Complex style found in Casablanca, but the valley is one of Chile's workhorse regions and its output is consistent and reliable. Curicó Valley growing conditions With respect to Climate, the eastern part of the valley – closer to the Andes Mountains – is cooler than the western section as it benefits from breezes coming down from the slopes of the Andes. In this way, it differs from regions further north, where the western ends of the valleys, being influenced by the Pacific Ocean, are generally cooler.

In Curicó, however, the hills of the Coastal Ranges dissipate the effect of east–west air movements. The major centers of production and the established high profile wineries (Echeverria, Montes, Viña San Pedro, TTorres and Valdivieso) are located around the cooler eastern towns of Curicó and Molino. The meltwater rivers Lontue and Teno that Flow through Curicó Valley (before converging to form the Mataquito River) have a significant effect on viticulture here. The region's varied soils are derived from limestone and volcanic rock from the Andes and have been deposited in the valley over time by the rivers (alluvial) as well as by gravity (colluvial).