The Bordeaux of South America
Maipo
Valley
About the Valley
Maipo is where Chilean wine history was written. The valley surrounding Santiago has been producing wine since the 16th century, and its Cabernet Sauvignon is considered the benchmark for the entire country. The Andes loom dramatically over the vineyards, providing both the gravelly soils washed down over millennia and the cold nights that preserve acidity and freshness in the grapes.
The Alto Maipo sub-zone, at higher elevations near the mountains, has become particularly celebrated for its structured, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. Wineries like Concha y Toro, Almaviva, and Don Melchor have built international reputations from this storied ground.
Terroir
Continental Mediterranean — warm days, cold nights
Gravel, clay, and alluvial soils from the Andes
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc
Highlights
- Chile's oldest and most historic wine region
- Dramatic Andes mountain backdrop
- Home to Almaviva — Chile's most prestigious wine
- Alto Maipo sub-zone for premium Cabernet