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Region Hierarchy |
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Climate(s) |
Warm |
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Elevation |
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Notes |
Warm; cut off from ocean breezes.
Central Valley DO notes: Warm and dry. At altitude, but flat. A large north-south valley south of Santiago. Produces the majority of inexpensive Chilean wines
Chile notes: Generally a dry, sunny growing season. El Niño and La Niña have real effects on wine regions. Most of the regions are sandwiched between coastal mountains and the Andes and get cooling effects from both.
Costa: from the coastal areas
Entre Cordilleras: between the coastal mountains and Andes
Andes: from the foothills |
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Grape(s) |
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Color |
Grape |
Notes |
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Red |
Cabernet Sauvignon Grape |
Grown on the cooler, eastern end
Chile notes: Widely grown in Chile
Grape notes: High tannins due to thick skin. Buds late and needs a long growing season. Often blended with Merlot to gain softness. Usually destemmed and crushed. |
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Red |
Carménère Grape |
Grown on the valley floor
Chile notes: Widely grown in Chile and has become its speciality
Grape notes: Needs a long, sunny growing season. From Bordeaux, but widely grown in Chile. Often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon |
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Red |
Syrah / Shiraz Grape |
Grown on the cooler, eastern end
Grape notes: Shiraz in Australia; all elsewhere Syrah. Small with thick, dark skins. |
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Wines(s) |
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Type |
Wine |
Notes |
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Still Red |
Cabernet Sauvignon Wine |
Inexpensive, fruit forward wines
Wine notes: Often able to age well. |
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Still Red |
Carménère Wine |
Inexpensive, fruit forward wines |
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Still Red |
Syrah (Shiraz) Wine |
Inexpensive, fruit forward wines
Wine notes: High tannins due to thick skin |
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