The Valle de Curicó (Curicó Valley) wine-growing area is located in the Valle Central in Chile around 220 kilometres south of the capital Santiago. It is divided into two sub-areas, Teno and Lontué. It has a temperate, Mediterranean climate with hot summer days and cool, humid nights as well as rainy winters due to the influence of the Pacific high pressure area. The vineyards cover 19,000 hectares of vineyards on mineral-rich and water-permeable soils with sand and gravel at higher altitudes. They are supplied by numerous irrigation channels fed by the Teno and Lontué rivers.
The white wine varieties Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, as well as the red wine varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are cultivated. The origins of viticulture go back to the Correa Albano family of winegrowers, who introduced French grape varieties here in 1851. The Spanish oenologist Miguel Torres Carbó (1909-1991), who founded the Miguel Torres winery in 1979 and was the first in Chile to introduce stainless steel tanks and barrique barrels, played a major role in the upswing. He also founded the traditional annual grape harvest festival "Vendimia". Other well-known producers include Canepa, Córpora, Montes, San Pedro and Valdivieso.
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Restaurantleiter, Sommelier, Weindozent und Autor; Dresden