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Puente Alto is a wine-producing region within the Maipo Valley on the southern fringes of the Chilean capital of Santiago. The area was one of the first in Chile to be recognised as having a distinct terroir for the production of wine, in a country that is historically better known for high production than for high quality. The Cabernet Sauvignon that is produced in Puente Alto is held in high regard and commands some of the highest prices in Chile.

The Maipo River flows through Puente Alto on its route from the Andean peaks to the Pacific Ocean, into which it flows just near San Antonio. The eastward growth of Santiago is prevented rather dramatically by the steep slopes of the lower Andes Mountains, which rise from 2000ft (600m) to peaks of 9800ft (3000m) within just a few miles. Puente Alto itself stands at an altitude of roughly 2300ft (700m), and it is this altitude, combined with the presence of a bridge over the Maipo River, that gives the area its name, which means 'high bridge' in Spanish.

The terroir here is heavily influenced by the Andes. The soil is considered by most growers to be the ace in Puente Alto's hand, and is made up of Andean rocks brought down into the region by the Maipo River. This alluvial soil is dry and free-draining, limiting the vigor of the vines and resulting in the production of small, concentrated berries. The resultant wines have a good structure and firm tannins and are said to get their minerality from this soil.

The Andes have a significant effect on the climate in Puente Alto. Vineyards are shaded in the morning as the sun rises over the mountain range, and warm, sunny afternoons are then followed by colder nights cooled by alpine winds. The altitude of the area exacerbates this diurnal temperature variation, slowing the ripening of the berries overnight. This leads to a balance of flavor and acidity in the wines of Puente Alto.

Vines arrived in the region in the 1800s, spreading south from the pioneering Cousino Macul vineyard north of the Maipo River. Any description of Puente Alto as a wine-producing area must reference the great names Almaviva and Don Melchor – the two wines that put the area on the viticultural map. Vinedo Chadwick is also based in Puente Alto and has cemented the region's prestige by winning international competitions and awards. The Berlin Tasting of 2004 pitched this Puente Alto wine against Chateaux Lafite, Latour and Margaux and Italian greats Sassicaia and Tignanello. The panel of 36 European judges voted Vinedo Chadwick as the top wine, making history for Chile's wine industry and breaking the image of the country as a producer only of 'good-value Merlot'.

While Cabernet Sauvignon makes up the majority of plantings in Puente Alto, the region also produces good examples of Syrah, Carmenere and Chardonnay.