Elqui Valley (wine region)

The Elqui Valley is a wine region centered on Elqui River in northern Chile. The Elqui Valley Denomination of Origin (DO) is defined by the Chilean appellation system, the legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown. The region lies 400 km (250 mi) north of Santiago,[1] at the southern end of the Atacama Desert in the Coquimbo region. It is known for producing table grapes and other fruits, as well as pisco brandy, Chile’s most popular liquor. It is considered the most commercially viable wine-producing region of northern Chile.

The region’s vineyards extend from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Andes Mountains in the east, and rise to an elevation of 2,000 meters above sea level (6,500 feet). Wine production began in the Elqui Valley in the 1990s when Chilean wine producers began to look at potential viticulture sites outside the Chilean Central Valley. Since then, 286 hectares (710 acres) of vines have been planted, mostly along the River Elqui valley, where grape growers have access to high-quality water for irrigation.[2]

The region has clay, silt and chalk soil, and is characterized by a sunny, desert-like climate, less than 70 millimetres (2.8 in) of annual rainfall, dry rocky terrain, steep valleys and temperate hills cooled by strong winds from the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, producing excellent results for varietals like Syrah.[2]

Grape distribution by varietal

Cabernet Sauvignon: 25 ha (62 acres)	Sauvignon Blanc: 72 ha (178 acres)	Carmenere: 60 ha (148 acres)
Syrah: 87 ha (215 acres)	Pinot Noir: 19 ha (47 acres)	Chardonnay: 23 ha (57 acres)

References

1. "Elqui Valley Wine Region". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
2. See Elqui Valley Chart Archived 2014-04-01 at the Wayback Machine www.winesofchile.org retrieved September 25, 2013