Chile is a long, narrow country with enormous geological and temperature variation, producing some fantastically varied wines. Over the next few months we’ll take you to each of Chile’s major wine regions, starting with Casablanca Valley, the newest inductee into the Great Wine Capitals of the World Casablanca Valley is located in the middle of Chile--less than an hour northwest of the capital city, Santiago--in the Aconcagua region. It’s a very new wine region--the first vines were planted in Casablanca in 1982 during the revitalization of Chile’s wine industry. (And if you were wondering, Casablanca is not named after Rick and Ilsa’s ill-fated love story, but after the wife of Fernando VI, King of Spain). The soils here are sandy clay soils which drain freely enough for high quality vineyards to thrive. Although Casablanca is closer to the Equator than many wine growing regions around the world, it is actually a very cool region. Its proximity to the ocean means it is influenced by the Humboldt Current, a stream of cold air that flows up Chile’s west coast from the Antarctic (this is the same air stream that cools the coastal vineyards of California), creating a long growing season, which allows the grapes to develop complex flavors and retain the acidity that is key to the wines’ success. There is a trade-off though, as the valley struggles with spring frosts that can severely damage the vineyards. Chardonnay is the most-planted variety in Casablanca, followed by sauvignon blanc. Both of these varieties produce vibrant, mouthwatering wines with herbaceous and bright citrus flavors. Pinot noir is gaining recognition in Casablanca as well, and is known for its fruity aromas and flavors, specifically a strawberry jam character. Aromatic varieties like viognier, gewurztraminer, and riesling are being experimented with all over the valley and are gaining in popularity, too
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:39:12 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015