Pietų regionas

A cool climate and dry farming

The climate of the Southern Region is much harsher than in the rest of the country. Short summers and cold, rainy winters prevail here. Due to the abundant rainfall, winemakers do not need to use artificial irrigation, making traditional dry farming widely practiced. The vines, growing in ancient soils of volcanic origin, red clay, and granite, drive their roots deep into the earth in search of nutrients. This provides the berries with incredible flavor concentration, while imparting a distinctly palpable earthy and mineral character to the wines.

Three unique wine valleys

The region stretches far south and consists of three main appellations, each revealing a different face of Chilean winemaking

• Itata Valley is the historic home of Chilean winemaking, where the first vines were planted by Spanish conquistadors back in the 16th century. The valley is globally renowned for its ancient bush vines growing on steep granite slopes.
• Bío Bío Valley features an even cooler, wind-swept climate. Thanks to a long and slow grape ripening period, this valley is perfectly suited for the production of premium aromatic white and elegant red wines.
• Malleco Valley is the southernmost and most extreme region. A short growing season and high frost risk make winemaking here a true challenge, but in the best years, it yields Burgundian-style masterpieces of astonishing freshness.

The grape varieties that bring fame to the region

The grapes cultivated in the Southern Region distinctly stand out from the country's overall context and perfectly reflect the advantages provided by the cool climate

• País and Cinsault are experiencing a historic revival in the Itata Valley. These old vines, growing here since ancient times, are now used to produce light, earthy, incredibly juicy, and highly gastronomic red wines.
• Pinot Noir and Chardonnay find ideal conditions in the Bío Bío and Malleco valleys. These wines boast exceptional elegance, crisp acidity, and subtle notes of red berries, apples, and citrus, effortlessly rivaling the best Old World examples.
• Riesling and Muscat (Moscatel) particularly delight white wine enthusiasts. Muscat from the old vines of Itata reveals intoxicating floral aromas, while Riesling captivates with steely minerality and impressive longevity.