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Regions in Chile

Region · Chile

Central Valley

458 bottles

Southwest of Chile's capital, Santiago, lies the large Valle Central — an expanse of fertile and fairly flat land between the Andes and the Coastal Range, the low-lying mountains just inland from the Pacific.

It is Chile's most notable wine area, where a majority of the most important appellations are found, including the two most renowned, Maipo Valley and Colchagua Valley.

The most fertile part of the valley — the centre, where the soils are deepest — grows an abundance of crops from wheat, corn and beans to nuts, fruits and sugar beets; it is in the LESS fertile, granitic soils, often hugging the hillsides, that wine grapes are grown.

The region spans five distinct sub-valleys: Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua, Curicó and Maule (label readers note that Cachapoal and Colchagua are sometimes referred to together as the Rapel Valley), many separated by rivers that begin high in the Andes and flow to the Pacific.

Soils in the top vineyards are often a well-drained, friable granite, becoming more fertile toward the deep centre where granitic stone is interspersed with loam, sand and clay; on the eastern side, below the Andes, many vineyards sit on alluvial fans.

The easy availability of water — Andean snowmelt channelled through dikes and canals — is one of Chile's leading viticultural assets, but also a potential downfall: growers wanting huge crops of bland, cheap wine can simply flood the vineyards, while top producers use controlled drip irrigation or even water by hand.

Along with Aconcagua, the Valle Central makes up Chile's historic wine centre, and a lion's share of all Chilean wine exports comes from these two areas.

Key grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon
Carmenère
Chardonnay
Merlot
Sauvignon Blanc

ClassificationChile DO

A few to explore

Subregions

Curicó Valley

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The WNLQ9 catalogue lists 458 bottles from Central Valley, Chile. The selection spans Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot. Critic scores include: Baron Philippe de Rothschild Escudo Rojo Gran Reserva - Blend (93 pts, James Suckling).

About Central Valley: its grapes, sub-regions and bottles

Frequently Asked Questions

What Central Valley wines and spirits are in the WNLQ9 catalogue?

The WNLQ9 catalogue lists 458 bottles from Central Valley, Chile, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot. Browse the collection: https://wnlq9.shop/explore-map/central-valley

Which Central Valley bottles in the WNLQ9 catalogue have critic scores?

Critic scores include: VIK Millahue (100 pts, James Suckling); Almaviva 2015 (100 pts, James Suckling); Almaviva 2021 (100 pts, James Suckling).