Maipo Valley

The Maipo Valley is Chile’s most historic and renowned wine region, often called the "Bordeaux of South America." Located just south of the capital city, Santiago, it is the cradle of the Chilean wine industry and the home of its finest Cabernet Sauvignon. Shaped by the cooling influences of the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Maipo produces structured, elegant red wines that have earned a place on the world stage.

Food Pairings with Maipo Valley Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon: The perfect match for grilled steak, roast lamb, empanadas, or hearty stews.
Carmenere: Pair with roasted meats, spicy dishes, or pasta with a meat-based sauce.
Sauvignon Blanc: Excellent with fresh ceviche, grilled fish, or salads.

Geography & Climate

The Maipo Valley is part of Chile’s large Central Valley. Its climate is reliably warm and dry, a classic Mediterranean climate perfect for ripening red grapes. The valley is defined by two major geographical influences: the Andes Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Vineyards in the Alto Maipo (High Maipo), nestled in the Andean foothills, experience cool mountain breezes and a large diurnal temperature range, producing elegant, structured, and age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. Areas closer to the coast are cooler, while the central valley is warmer, producing softer, fruitier wines.

History of the Maipo Valley

Winemaking in the Maipo Valley dates to the 16th century with the arrival of the Spanish. However, its modern history began in the mid-19th century when wealthy Chilean landowners, inspired by Bordeaux, imported French grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carmenere. Because of Chile’s geographic isolation, the phylloxera pest that devastated Europe’s vineyards never arrived here.

This means Maipo is home to some of the world’s oldest ungrafted vines. For many years, the industry was traditional and locally focused, but a wave of investment and modernization in the late 20th century propelled Maipo’s wines to international fame.

Subregions and Appellations

The most prestigious sub-region, located at high altitudes in the foothills of the Andes. It is renowned for producing Chile's finest, most elegant, and longest-lived Cabernet Sauvignon. Key areas include Puente Alto and Pirque.

The warmer, central part of the valley, known for producing ripe, fruit-forward red wines that are excellent value.

The coastal part of the valley, influenced by ocean breezes, specializing in crisp white wines.

Signature Wine Styles

Red

Maipo's reputation is built on Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are known for their balance of ripe blackcurrant and blackberry fruit with savory notes of mint, eucalyptus, cedar, and graphite. They typically have firm tannins and a structure that allows them to age beautifully. Carmenere, Chile's signature grape, also thrives here, producing wines with soft tannins and characteristic notes of red pepper, spice, and dark fruit.

White

While reds dominate, cooler pockets of the Maipo Valley, particularly those closer to the coast, produce crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc and ripe, balanced Chardonnay.

Notable Producers

Viñedo Chadwick

A producer of one of Chile's most famous and expensive wines, a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto that famously beat top Bordeaux wines in the 2004 Berlin Tasting.

Almaviva

A prestigious joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild (of Château Mouton Rothschild) and Concha y Toro, producing an iconic Bordeaux-style blend.

Concha y Toro

One of Chile's largest and most historic producers, whose flagship wine, "Don Melchor," is a benchmark for Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon.

Santa Rita

A historic estate with a long tradition of producing high-quality wines, including the renowned "Casa Real" Cabernet Sauvignon.

De Martino

An innovative producer known for championing lesser-known grape varieties and traditional winemaking techniques, like aging in clay amphorae (tinajas).

Fun Facts about the Maipo Valley

Many of the region's Cabernet Sauvignon vines are grown on their own rootstock, a rarity in the world of wine.
The "Berlin Tasting" of 2004, where two Maipo Cabernet-based wines placed ahead of Château Lafite and Château Margaux, is considered Chile's "Judgment of Paris" moment.
The valley is home to a thriving "enotourism" scene, with many historic wineries offering tours and tastings just a short drive from Santiago.
The Maipo River, which flows from the Andes, is the primary source of irrigation for the valley's vineyards.

Maipo Valley

Quick Facts

Key Grape Varieties

Red Varieties

White Varieties