Loncomilla is a valley in the heart of the Maule Valley DO (Denominación de Origen) in central Chile. A charming patina of vineyards that make up the wine-producing zone can be found surrounding the towns of San Javier and Villa Alegre, 150 miles (250km) south of Santiago. Dense, fruit-driven reds made from the Bordeaux varieties (particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) are the most important wines made here.
© Wikimedia/Alextan63
The valley surrounds the Loncomilla River, a southern tributary of the Maule River, which is a dominant geographical feature of the wider region. Most Loncomilla vineyards sit on the fairly flat land which surrounds the river, where the soils (mostly alluvial and loamy) are fertile and can produce high yields. Slighter higher up in the valley are hillier areas, where pockets of free-draining soils are made up mostly of gravel and decomposed granite. In these poorer, drier soils, vines are forced to grow deep root systems in order to find water and nutrients, and thus produce grapes of higher quality.
The climate can be classified as Mediterranean, and there is significantly more rainfall over the winter months than in more northern parts of Chile like the Maipo Valley. This rainfall helps to ensure that the water content in the ground is sufficient to sustain vines over the long, dry summers. While some vineyards use irrigation over the summer months, many have chosen a dry-growing technique where irrigation is forgone to reduce yields and increase flavor concentration in the grapes.
Loncomilla lies some 50 miles (80km) from the Pacific Ocean and its Antarctic Humboldt current. Cool breezes coming off the ocean are swept into the Loncomilla Valley in the late afternoon, tempering the effect of the ripening season's hot, sunny days. The diurnal temperature variation that is so important to viticulture in Chile is particularly pronounced in Loncomilla. There can be up to 65F (20C) difference between the day-time and night-time temperatures here, meaning that grapes benefit from a cooling off period overnight. This extends the ripening period and allows grapes to achieve full phenolic ripeness.
Bordeaux varieties abound in Loncomilla, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Carmenere all featuring heavily in the vineyards. Chardonnay and Carignan are produced in the region as well.
