Our Vineyards

At Ventisquero, we source our grapes from the finest vineyards in Chile. Most are grown within miles of the Pacific Ocean, benefiting from the diurnal temperature swings of upwards of more than 20 degrees between morning and night. Such extreme changes bring with them the cooling effects of fog. This, in turn, results in highly concentrated flavor profiles, rich in complexities, structure and balance. This is extreme viticulture.

Growing vineyards in a salty dry soil, with low irrigation and very high temperature oscillation is unique in Chile. Atacama is the driest desert in the world, and at Ventisquero we accepted the challenge to produce our Tara Chardonnay from this terroir.

Below, arranged north to south, are the vineyards from which our wines are produced.

In the part of the Huasco Valley, a part of the Atacama wine-growing region, where the Longomilla and Nicolasa vineyards are situated, the dense fog known as “camanchaca” blankets the land each day. This fog comes in from the Pacific Ocean. Moisture from this daily fog provides the vine leaves with a small but important increase in humidity.

The valley is located 60 miles north-west of Chile’s capital, Santiago. It is oriented east-west and benefits from the cooling effects of the Humboldt Current, flowing up the west coast of Chile from the Antarctic. Cooling afternoon breezes blow from the ocean towards the mountains in the east, filling the vacuum created by warm air rising in the east.

Considered to be one of Chile’s most prestigious wine-producing regions, the Pirque region of Maipo Valley produces some of the country’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Our vines are located 1,500-2,000 feet above sea level and experience nighttime temperatures as much as 35F (20C) lower than during the day. The result is a ripening period that allows grapes to develop complex fruit flavors while retaining acidity.

The name “Apalta” means “poor soils.” In this region, our Carménère and Syrah grow in soils of red clay and granitic composition on south-west facing slopes of more than 30 degrees.

In these geographic conditions, the stressed vines are forced to seek out meager nutrients, particularly as our Carménère is planted at nearly 1,600 feet in elevation.

This extreme viticulture concentrates flavors and encourages crisp acidity, making wines of this region highly sought-after.

Learn more about our Pangea, Obliqua and Vertice wines from this region below.