Wine Tasting and Tours in and around the Aconcagua Wine Valley, Chile
Introduction
The Aconcagua Valley is part of the Aconcagua Wine Region, but here we will talk only about the valley. It takes its name from the mountain also called Aconcagua (pronounced “Akonkawa”) that straddles the border between Chile and Argentina. The Aconcagua summit height of 6,960m above sea level makes it the highest mountain in the Americas and outside of the Himalayas.
The valley is a result of the river, also called Aconcagua, that used to be vastly bigger than it is today, and as it flowed down from the Andes to the Pacific it carved out the valley and left behind a sandy soil, hills and terraces ideal for vine cultivation. As far a wine production is concerned, the Aconcagua valley is relatively small, but it does produce good wine, both red and white, and is close to Santiago and therefore easily accessible for day visits.
About
To get to the Aconcagua Valley you need to take the northern Santiago ring road called Americo Vespucio from central Santiago towards Santiago airport (this is in a northern direction out of Santiago centre, or better, from the Las Condes suburb), but at a point prior to crossing the main Ruta 5 Panamerican highway, you need to turn off right and take the road Ruta 57 towards the Chilean town of Los Andes. Note that this turn off is not that obvious, so you need to keep your eyes focussed on the sign to Los Andes.
Alternatively, you can get on to the main Ruta Panamerican Highway and drive north to Llay Llay for about 90km and from here turn right (east, towards the Andes Mountains) to San Felipe.
The town of Los Andes is, literally, at the base of the Andes mountains, the other side of which is the Argentine city of Mendoza – 293km away by road. Also, the road that departs
Los Andes and continues to the Chilean border crossing with Argentina leads to the ski centre called Portillo.
Los Andes is only 78km northeast from Santiago and the wine-growing area is situated in the sector before arriving to Los Andes, as well as being around the town, and to the west and east of San Felipe.
It has been said that the Aconcagua Wine Valley is one of the more attractive wine valleys of Chile due to the planted areas of vibrant, green leafy vines covering the valley sides contrasting blatantly with the barren, brown-coloured unplanted areas and with the added backdrop of the white-covered peaks of the Andes, especially the mighty Aconcagua Mountain itself.
The first vines were planted here recently, during the 1980’s and therefore Aconcagua is considered a new wine producing valley for Chile.
Grapes
The valley is known for producing excellent ripe, fruity wines, especially the reds of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot and Petit Verdot. However, in the cooler sectors of the Valley, as in the areas further west, closer to the Pacific, there have been good results with the white wine varieties of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
Such has been the success of wine berry production in the Aconcagua Valley, in 2004, at the main Berlin Tasting event a wine called “Sena” produced by the Errazuriz family vineyard, gained recognition as an excellent “Bordeaux Style” blend outperforming other, more traditional blends from other wine regions of the World.
Climate, Weather and Soil
As with any wine-grape producing area, the climate and soil type are key ingredients in the overall production process.
Here, the summer days (December to and of March) are usually dry and hot, with high diurnal day-time temperatures, and winters are cold. The summer evenings and night temperatures are influenced by the maritime breeze that comes off the Pacific, some 150km to the west and this also cools the soil as well as the heavier, cold air that falls down from the Andes at night.
There is little rain fall here, but the valley is irrigated by snow melt from the Andes and this, along with a sandy soil, helps with the production of red grape varieties such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The sandy soil also acts as a barrier to the phylloxera pest getting into the vine roots and allows vines to develop in a healthy way.
Wineries in the Valley that Offer Wine Tasting
There are a number of small wineries in the Aconcagua Wine Valley that open themselves up for wine tours and tastings, often accompanied with food options too, and these are:
Baron Knyphausen
El Escorial
Errazuriz Wines
Flaherty Wines
Narbona
Peumayen
Sanchez de Loria
San Esteban von Siebental
For more information by all means check out the valley web site: http://aconcagua.wine/
Wine Tours and Tastings
Note: Here at ExperienceChile.Org, we will be pleased to arrange a full day wine tour to the Aconcagua Wine Valley, with tastings, lunch and all transport included. This can also be included into the rest of your travel itinerary.
