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 half, closer to the Pacific Ocean. Both halves 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 some 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 region, but with the Chilean wine industry driving greater regionality, it is now widely recognized as a region in its own right. The presence of several respected and well-established wineries in Curico almost certainly supported the case for the separation.
Curico's climate is divided as clearly as its boundaries. The eastern portion of the region is cooler than the western portion, as it benefits from breezes coming down from the slopes of the Andes. This differs from regions further north in Chile, 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, leaving the western parts of Curico slightly warmer than the east. It may well be for this reason that the major centers of production, and the established names of Curico Valley wine (Echeverria, Montes, San Pedro, Torres and Valdivieso) are located around the eastern towns of Curico and Molino.
While Curico's vineyards are planted with more varieties than any others 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. While the former is yet to produce a rival to Maipo's red wines, and the latter does not produce the fresh, complex style found in Casablanca, Curico remains one of Chile's workhorse regions with a consistent, reliable output.
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