Curico Valley is a wine-producing region in central Chile. It is divided into two sections: an eastern half, located towards the slopes of the Andes, and a western portion which is closer to the Pacific Ocean. Both areas are roughly 115 miles (185km) south of the Chilean capital, Santiago, located at a latitude of 35 degrees south (Curico shares this proximity to the equator with the southern tip of Spain. (© Proprietary Content, Wine-Searcher.)
The Curico Valley was the region chosen by Miguel Torres when he began his Chilean wine enterprises in 1979, bringing with him from Spain a number of technological advances which had a significant impact on the Chilean wine industry. In those days, Curico was considered to be a part of the Maule wine egion, but it is now recognized as a region in its own right. The presence of several well-respected and well-established wineries in Curico almost certainly supported the case for its individual recognition.
Curico's climate is varied, depending on the location of particular vineyards. The eastern portion of the region is cooler than the west as it benefits from breezes coming down from the slopes of the Andes. In this way it differs from regions further north, where the western ends of the valleys are generally cooler, being influenced by the Pacific Ocean. In Curico, however, the hills of the Coastal Ranges dissipate the effect of east–west air movements. The major centers of production and the established names of Curico Valley wine (Echeverria, Montes, San Pedro, Torres and Valdivieso) are located around the cooler eastern towns of Curico and Molino.
While Curico's vineyards are planted with more varieties than anywhere else in Chile, the dominant varieties remain the same as they were when the region first arrived on the international wine map: Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Curico's Cabernet Sauvignon has yet to produce a rival to Maipo's red wines and its Sauvignon Blanc does not produce the fresh, complex style found in Casablanca. However, it remains one of Chile's workhorse regions, with a consistent, reliable output.
