Argentine Wineries
Dry climate, cool nights and hot days, the mineral-rich water, sandy soil and an abundance of sun combine to make this one of the most perfect wine growing regions in the world.
Brazilian Wineries
The wine producing region marches up from the "Valley of the Vineyards" to the ""Vineyards of the High Mountains" with climates and soil that support a wide variety of grapes.
Chilean Wineries
Long, dry summers and cool winters make for ideal growing conditions and provide for consistent vintages from year to year.
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Wine Producing Regions
Argentina
Prior to the 1990s, Argentine wine was produced mostly for domestic consumption. Its dry climate, cool nights, hot days, mineral-rich water, sandy soil and an abundance of sunshine made it one of the most perfect wine growing regions in the world. In the early 1990s the Argentine government pegged the peso to the dollar, a disasterous move in other areas of the economy, but one that opened the door for massive foreign investment in the wine industry. State-of-the-art technology and the export-friendly economy led to great improvements in the quality of Argentine wine.
Mendoza
This area, at the foot of the Argentine Andes, produces over 80% of the country's wine. Highlights are Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay with increasingly impressive Syrahs and Malbecs. Foreign investment is bringing notice to the wines of Mendoza.
Salta
This region in the north of Argentina produces generally high quality Cabernet Sauvignons. Notable producers -- Torrontés in the Cafayate sub-region, Finca Colomé and Michel Torino.
Rio Negro
The region lies on the edge of Patagonia in the southern reaches of Argentina's wine country. With cool climates for varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir and high quality sparkling wines, often made in association with top Champagne houses, this is an area to watch.
San Juan and La Rioja
These are the jug wine producing regions of Argentina. Most of the wine is purely for local consumption.
Brazil
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Brazil's wine production is centered in the Serra Gaucha mountains just an hour's drive from Porto Alegre in southern Brazil. The area welcomed extensive Italian immigration beginning in the late 1800's. What the immigrants created in a largely wilderness land is remarkable. Today, among many other accomplishments, a thriving wine making industry is aiming to replace Argentina and Chile as Latin America's leading wine exporting region. Recent investment in the industry make this an area to watch. The wine producing region marches up from the "Valley of the Vineyards" to the ""Vineyards of the High Mountains" with climates and soil that support a wide variety of grapes. This tourist-friendly area is waiting to be discovered.
Chile
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Chile has ideal conditions for growing wine grapes. With the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes Mountains to the east, Chile is almost isolated from the rest of the continent. The towering Andes trap the proper ammount of moisture for grape growing and block the destructive phylloxera louse. Long, dry summers and cool winters make for ideal growing conditions and provide for consistent vintages from year to year. The major grape-producing areas are located in the Chile's Central Valley.
Limari
This small sunny region with very few days of rain each year is perfect for growing wine grapes as well as the Pisco grapes that are used to produce Pisco, the brandy considered the national drink of Chile. Most popular red wine grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Negro, white wine grapes are Chardonnay, Moscatel de Alejandria, Rhin (Riesling), Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Aconcagua
This hot and arid zone in northern Chile is best suited to red wine production. Good qality Cabernet Sauvignon is produced here. Best known winery in the area is Errázuriz estate, where California winemaker Ed Flaherty is turning out excellent Chardoneys from hillside vineyards, as well as fine quality reds.
Casablanca
This relatively cool and largely coastal region produces fine Chardonnay and world class Sauvignon Blanc. Pinot Noir is also being planted to take advantage of its cool climate conditions. Some of Chile's finest wines come from Casablanca, including the Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay of Casa Lapostolle and the Casablanca Chardonnays made by Ignacio Recabarren
Maipó
This is the home of most of the largest wineries in Chile, mostly due to its location just south of capital city, Santiago. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant grape and quality is high. Concha y Tora and Santa Rita vineyards are a pleasant hour's drive from Santiago.
Rapel
This valley features a range of climate conditions and soil types leading to production of more varieties of wine than other areas. Merlot dominates, but there's also Pinot Noir, Viognier and Gewurztraminer. Bottles labeled Rapel - Colchagua come from a small sub-region along the coast.
Curicó and Maule
The Curicó region in the northern Maule Valley and the Maule region in its south produce fairly ordinary wine. Exceptions occur in subclimates with better soil. A sub-region,L ontué, sometimes appears on labels.
Bío Bío
This large region south of the Maule Valley currently produces mostly inexpensive jug wine. Recent investment in the area and its cooler southern climate will probably lead to better quality wine in the future.
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