Discover the Rich Flavors of Limarì Valley Wines
Limarì Valley is one of Chile’s northernmost winegrowing districts, approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Santiago. This puts it at a latitude of 30 degrees south, which is a long way south of where wine is usually grown. In the Northern Hemisphere, the analogous parallel runs across Egypt, Iraq, and northern Mexico. Despite this, the Limarì Valley is not Chile’s most northern location; the Elqui Valley is 50 miles (80 kilometers) north.
Chardonnay is the most important grape in Limari Valley wines. This is because the climate is cool and the soil has a lot of limestone, which gives the wines a mineral taste. Syrah also does well here. In cooler coastal vineyards, it makes savory styles, and in warmer inland vineyards, it makes richer, more fruit-driven styles. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, two of Chile’s most successful types, are also included, as is Carmenère, the country’s hallmark grape.
The Limarì Valley is hot and dry due to its proximity to the equator (not to mention the world’s driest desert, the Atacama). It is cooler and greener than the country on either side, thanks almost exclusively to the tiny gap in the coastal hills made by the Limar River. The coastal mountains on either side of this chasm rise to about 2300ft (700m), preventing cooling Pacific breezes from reaching inland locations.
The coastal “Camanchaca” fog flows through the gap and up into the valley on warm mornings. For much of the morning, the fog refreshes the local vineyards with cold, moist air, until the sun rises over the Andes and begins to re-establish the heated, dry, desert-like conditions with which northern Chile is more commonly identified. This effect is a lot like what coastal wine regions in California, especially Napa Valley, like to have.
The rainfall here averages only four inches (101mm) per year, and even with the Camanchaca’s wetness, all Limari Valley grapes rely on drip irrigation to some extent. The Hurtado and Grande rivers (which unite to form the Limar River) send cool, pure meltwater down from the Andes. Water is so valuable in this part of the world that every river has been dammed to make embalses (reservoirs). The Hurtado’s flow is controlled by the Embalse Recoleta, whereas the Grande’s is controlled by the Embalse Palomar.
Historically, the grapes harvested in Limarì’s vineyards were either consumed as table grapes or distilled into Chile’s signature brandy, Pisco (neighboring Peru also claims Pisco as its own). Even now, when winemakers are looking for new spots in the valley, less than 20% of the grapes grown there are used to make great wine.
The Limarì Valley’s limestone soil types are uncommon in Chilean terroirs. They are made of old seabeds that were lifted up into the Andes by tectonic forces and then moved by glaciers and rivers to the plains and valleys below.
