Choapa Valley is one of Chile's newest wine regions, located north of Santiago in the narrowest part of the country. Here, between the peaks of the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, the cool, dry terroir takes influence from both. Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon have proved well suited to the terroir here, producing smoky, elegant wines with characters of dark fruit.
The viticultural zone is located in Choapa province, halfway between the Limari and Aconcagua valleys, to the north and south respectively. The mountains here are traversed by a series of rivers, and it is in the valleys carved by these rivers that viticulture takes place.
The cool, desert-like climate in Choapa is similar to those of its northern neighbors Limari and Elqui, and further demonstrates Chile's recent viticultural expansion into the cooler parts of the country. Influences from both the Pacific Ocean's Antarctic Humboldt current and the high peaks of the Andes cool the vineyards during the growing season. This effect helps to tame the high levels of sunshine brought about by relatively high altitudes – Choapa vineyards are found as high as 2600ft (800m) above sea level. As a result, grapes can reach optimum levels of phenolic ripeness without sacrificing acidity, resulting in balanced wines.
The rocky, colluvial soils have been deposited in the area over time by the effects of gravity, and are mainly composed of clay, silt and chalk. These low-fertility soils have proved excellent for vines, as the lack of nutrients and good drainage forces deep root penetration in search of water. This improves vine health, and the resultant grapes are high quality with excellent concentration. This situation is helped along by Choapa's very low levels of rainfall, allowing vignerons control over the water intake of the vines through the use of irrigation.
One of Chile's largest commercial producers, De Martino, has helped put the region on the map by producing a Choapa Valley Syrah that has already garnered international attention.
