Set in the midst of Chile's coastal mountains, the Casablanca Valley has quickly matured into one of the country's most popular wine travel destinations.

 

Casablanca is one of Chile's most accessible vineyards with its ideal location in between Santiago and the Valparaíso/Viña del Mar region. The drive time from the capital is less than hour (75 km), and around 30 minutes for arrival from the coast (25 - 40 km). This east-west valley, which is just 19 km across, full of grape vines and surrounded by the rolling coastal mountains, is a beautiful and conveniently-located place to get to know Chilean wine.

According to Chilean wine expert Patricia Tapia in his recent book "Vinos y Valles," the first grape vines were planted in the valley in 1982 by Pablo Morandé. Many doubted that grapes could be grown in the region, but Pablo kept the faith and the world of wine has since been rewarded with some remarkable Sauvignon Blanc as a result. This wine variety is by far the region's star, although it has also produced a number award-winning Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

The Casablanca Valley was Chile's first cool-climate coastal region. Interestingly, the valley's latitude of 33°S places it closer to the equator than any European vineyard. So how does the region produce such fresh, crisp wines? It's thanks to the cooling-effect of the Pacific and the Humboldt Current that passes along Chile's coast. This combination produces cool misty-morning fogs that are blown into the valley by ocean breezes and corralled by the coastal mountains that surround it. 

Although the valley is open throughout the year, the ideal time to visit is from spring to fall, which remember in the SouthernHemisphere is September to June. The region has a very developed wine tourism infrastructure, excellent restaurants and a series of wine routes. A large number of private companies offer tours to the region with transportation to and from Santiago or Valparaíso/Viña del Mar.

　　Related News in Chinese: 畅游智利葡萄酒之乡--卡萨布兰卡谷